West Bengal saw a 3 fold surge in the number of COVID-19 doses provided on the first day of the free booster shot distribution for beneficiaries aged between 18 and 59 years. Over 90% of the total 3.5 lakh vaccinations that were delivered across the state on Friday were given to adults between the ages of 18 and 59 years.

The city′s Covid Vaccination Centers (CVCs), which are managed by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), saw a nearly five-fold increase from the previous days. Health department sources predict a sharp increase in the next week as more individuals learn about the free dosages. The free booster jab program will be open only for 75 days. Bengal currently has about 14 lakh Covishield doses against about 4.8 crore people whose Covishield precautionary jab is due.

Mr. Atin Ghosh, the deputy mayor of the KMC, stated that the numbers are anticipated to increase significantly starting early next week and that the infrastructure was prepared to reopen several mega vaccination facilities in response to an increase in demand at the ward level. 

Further, all government CVCs will be open for vaccination on Saturdays. A six to seven times increase in the number of vaccinations were also observed at vaccination centres attached with teaching medical colleges, which had reduced previously. (Times of India, Jul 16, 2022)