Regarding the third Covid vaccine dose given as a precaution, Ahmedabad people seems to have ignored safety. Even in light of more recent variations of concern seen in other nations, Ahmedabad City’s acceptance of the third dose and the government’s distribution of them for free at health centres are at best mediocre.
Only 10.55 lakh or 22.54% of Ahmedabad City’s 46.83 lakh eligible residents have taken the third precautionary dose, according to data from CoWin.
As of January 5, only 1.94 crore of Gujarat’s total eligible population—4.90 crore people—had taken the third dose, or just 39.57%.
18 to 59 years age group
The proportion of people who have received the third dose has remained depressing nine months after its rollout began on April 10, 2022, despite members of the vaccination task force and experts in the field warning that the precautionary dose did not receive good response as the central government had asked citizens in the 18-59 age group to buy it from the market and take the jab at private vaccination centres.
Young and healthy people in Ahmedabad city don’t seem to care about getting the third dose, whether they pay for it or not at government vaccination sites.
Only 5.73 lakh, or a pitiful 15%, of the 38.04 lakh individuals eligible to receive the third dose in the 18-59 age group had done so as of January 5. In Gujarat, 1.34 crore (33.4%) of the eligible population—a total of 4.03 crore—have taken it. While vaccine intake has remained low thus far, Dr. Bhavin Solanki, Medical Officer of Health (MoH) for AMC stated, “We expect more people to come and take the third dose once we have enough Covishield in stock, because the state is providing it at no costOfficials from the health department confirmed that the state has been giving them away for free because there hasn’t been a policy update regarding fees. Gujarat ordered 2 lakh doses of Covaxin and 10 lakh doses of Covishield from the Centre after its vaccine stock fell to almost 20,000 by December. Despite last week’s replenishment of Covaxin supplies, Covishield is anticipated to arrive at government vaccination facilities on January 9.
Gujarat reported 4 new Covid cases on Friday — 2 in Ahmedabad and 1 each in Kutch and Valsad districts.
HCWs, FLWs and 60+ years age group
The third dose coverage is higher in this population as a result of the government starting to provide the third dose free of charge to vulnerable populations, including Healthcare Workers (HCWs), Frontline Workers (FLWs), and those over 60. But once again, Ahmedabad City’s coverage is less than the State. Only 4.82 lakh, or just 54.9%, of the 8.79 lakh eligible individuals in the city have received the third dose. On the other hand, 59.41 lakh or 68.1% of the 87.27 lakh people in Gujarat have taken the third dose.
Expert Speak
There is complacency in taking the third dose, according to Dr. Naveen Thacker, a member of the Gujarat Covid Vaccine Task Force. The government urges people to exercise caution but not to become alarmed. People won’t take precautions unless they become anxious. Third doses do have a place, especially for high-risk populations. Any new variations will target the elderly and vulnerable population. As a result of widespread immunisation and the infections Delta and Omicron, we currently have hybrid immunity.
Dr. Atul Patel, an infectious diseases expert who recently provided the Gujarat government with advice on the matter, there is scientific evidence to support the need for a third dose. The third dose will increase immunity even in healthy young people because Covid can cause bilateral pneumonia in people as old as 30.