Special vax drive enters 16th day; 4,78,521 get jab

The mega vaccination drive initiated by the state government within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits against novel Coronavirus has completed 16 days in all 31 centres on Saturday.

The drive was launched initially for 10 days to vaccinate the high-risk groups, but later it was decided to extend for some more days, taking the growing number of beneficiaries into account and also as new categories were added in the highrisk groups.

The mega special vaccination drive for the high-risk group started in the GHMC region on May 28. The drive is meant to inoculate those who are exposed to the virus due to interactions with many people. The whole activity is planned and executed by the GHMC.

‘Covishield’ vaccine is administered in all the centres, to people who work in small and medium shops, restaurants, medical shops, vegetable vendors, mutton shops, etc. New categories would be added to the list in the next two days including crematorium employees and burial ground employees.

The vaccine administration at each centre has been increased, according to GHMC officials. Though the initial target was to vaccinate

1,000 people per day at each centre, gradually it was increased to 1,600 to

1,800 per day. On day one, a total of 21,000 were given the jabs and on Saturday close to 40,000 people were. The total number of beneficiaries who have taken the jab during the drive is 4,78,521 so far.

There were a few places where rain disrupted the drive, especially at Government School, Musheerabad. The authorities immediately shifted the registration counters into classrooms and ensured the smooth conduct of the vaccination drive. The GHMC employees at this centre were felicitated with shawls by Musheerabad corporator Supriya Goud.

Sanjay Singh, assistant commissioner, GHMC, said, “The drive has been extended looking at the response from high-risk groups. New categories have been added, and whole drive is going on smoothly.”