Dip in vaccinations

The number of people taking the COVID-19 vaccine witnessed a dip during the last few days. According to officials of the Health Department, only 30% of the population in the city has taken at least on

The number of people taking the COVID-19 vaccine witnessed a dip during the last few days. According to officials of the Health Department, only 30% of the population in the city has taken at least one shot of the vaccine. The scene at the Kalaiarangam and Devar Hall in the city was quite the opposite of what had transpired there over the last few weeks. While 1000 doses of the vaccine were distributed to each of the two centres to inoculate people with the second dose of Covaxin, by noon, only around 200 were administered. The medical officers at the site were contemplating whether they could open up the vaccination site to people to get the first dose. ‘We cannot waste the vaccine. If we get 10 people, we will open a vial and inoculate them,’ a staff at Kalaiarangam said. While over 2,000 people used to gather at these locations each time a vaccination camp was announced, the crowd was sparse on Wednesday. ‘Many thronged to get the vaccine last month as they were asked to return to their workplaces with a vaccination certificate. However, the dip in COVID-19 cases has reflected in the turnout too,’ A. Mohammed Hakkim, doctor in charge of the vaccination drive in the city said.