Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)
Udupi, Apr 30: The demand for booster dose is increasing in the wake of fourth wave of Covid pandemic. Though union government is giving first and second dose and booster dose for people above 60 years free of cost, those in the age group of 18 to 60 have to get the same by paying in private hospitals.
The private hospitals have still not procured the stock of booster doses. In 2021, many private hospitals suffered losses as the government started giving first and second dose free of cost to public. So this time around, the private hospitals will start buying after assessing Covid’s fourth wave situation. Those who have completed 39 weeks after taking the second dose, need to take the booster dose.
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Covaxin for people above 60 years and from 15 to 18 is given free of cost. Similarly Corbevax is given free to adolescents in the age group of 12 to 15 years. The Karnataka government has ordered wearing of mask and social distancing, but the public is still going easy.
In the district, 10,82,914 people have taken the first dose, while 10,31,133 have completed the second dose also. However, booster dose has been administered to only 64,528 people. The target is to administer vaccine to 9,99,000 people of 18+ age group. Now 10,03,958 people are given the first dose and 9,79,884, the second dose.
As many as 53,555 people in the age group of 15 to 18 have to be given the Covid vaccination. Out of this, 91.30% are administered the first dose and 13.90% are given the second dose. In the age group of 12 to 14, 97.17% are administered the first dose while 13.90% are give the second dose. On the whole, 99.95% first doses and 95.17% second doses are administered. The booster dose should be given to 10.83 lac people. The number eligible at present is 1.87 lac and the progress is 34.45%.
The booster dose for 60+ people is given free of cost in government hospitals, while the same is given on chargeable basis for 18 to 60 years group in private hospitals. The meeting of private hospitals is already held and they are asked to make arrangements to administer booster dose as per the information given by deputy commissioner M Kurma Rao.