Less Than 50% Beneficiaries Show Up for COVID Vaccination in AP

Less than 50 percent of the targeted beneficiaries turned up for the coronavirus vaccination in Andhra Pradesh, on the second day of the nationwide drive on Sunday, 17 January. However, while the numbers were less than half of the turnout that was expected, Andhra Pradesh still had the highest number of health workers vaccinated on the second day of the vaccination drive.

According to data released by the Health Department, only 13,036 healthcare workers got the COVID-19 vaccine administered across the state, against the targeted 27,233 for the day. Across the country, only over 17,000 people got vaccinated in six states on Sunday.

Health Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar said only two adverse events following immunisation were reported, one each in Krishna and SPS Nellore districts, but there was nothing serious, reported PTI. 

As per the health department data, in the first two days, 32,149 people got vaccinated against the target of 58,803. On the first day, the state recorded a response rate of 61 percent, as over 19,000 frontline workers were vaccinated in the state.

Asked about the poor response, a health official said the numbers would increase slowly. "Vaccination is voluntary, so we can't forcibly bring people and give a shot," the official was quoted as saying by PTI.

Though 312 vaccine sessions were planned, a total of 308 vaccination sessions were held in all 13 districts.

East Godavari, Prakasam and Nellore districts topped the list for maximum beneficiaries getting vaccinated, and Krishna district was at the bottom of the list, with only 485 health workers.

The officials in Andhra have identified 3.87 lakh frontline workers across 332 locations in the state to administer the vaccine. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the vaccination drive at the Government General Hospital in Vijayawada on Saturday.

(With inputs from PTI.)

(This story was first published in The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)