Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Cowin app, hesitancy slow down booster shot drive

145,600 106,930 210,012 191,005 688,960 4,043 13,700 496,603 363,902 1,776 255,038 618,810 6,320 567,219 694,667 2,904 83,385 9,468 119,381 896,254 8,543 216,970 413,408 271,525 290,190 365,464 15,723 128,146 16,141 495,792 5

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com

: Glitches in the Co-win mobile applicatio­n to plan and track the coronaviru­s vaccinatio­n drive as well as some reluctance among selected recipients appeared to hamper efforts to give the second doses to those now eligible for it, reports from across the country on Monday suggested.

Six states -- Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtr­a, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat – began giving their second doses for the first time on Monday. Some others, such as West Bengal, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Haryana, started the process on Saturday, which marked 28 days (the required gap between doses) after the first shots were given during the nationwide launch on January 16.

In most states, the turnout on Monday was tepid, officials said.

In West Bengal, only 7,273 people received second doses compared to close to about 15,000 people who received the first dose on January 16

In Punjab, only four percent of those who received the first dose turned up on Monday. Out of 1,319 health care workers, who were scheduled to take second vaccine dose on Saturday, only 59 could get the doses.

“Technical glitches hit the applicatio­n on first day of second dose. Those who missed their second shot can still take the vaccine anytime between four to six weeks from their first dose” said Punjab’s nodal officer for Covid-19, Dr Rajesh Bhaskar.

According to officials, the planned sessions for second dose could not be created on the app, which resulted in problems in informing health workers about the timing. “We have informed the health ministry about the problems in the app,” he said.

In Jharkhand, from among the 3,085 recipients, only 2,405 turned up on Monday.

In Bihar, around 67% health

NEW DELHI

JAMMU & KASHMIR

1,849

PUNJAB

HARYANA

2,318 GUJARAT

8,080

DAMAN & DIU, DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI

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KARNATAKA

KERALA

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TAMIL NADU

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1,008

4,097

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10,838

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77 HIMACHAL PRADESH

144 UTTARAKHAN­D

UTTAR PRADESH

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MAHARASHTR­A

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PUDUCHERRY care workers who were meant to take the second doses turned up. “The low turnout for second dose on the opening day was because of communicat­ion issues. Many civil surgeons and superinten­dents of medical colleges claimed that many eligible beneficiar­ies did not receive SMS on their mobile phones for the second shot of the vaccine today,” said Manoj Kumar, executive director of the State health Society, Bihar.

However, in Uttar Pradesh the response was good on the first day. Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare,

0

193

LADAKH

1,894 CHANDIGARH

15,014

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3,862 ARUNACHAL PRADESH

1,250 NAGALAND

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5,190

14,128

ANDHRA PRADESH

14,630

Amit Mohan Prasad said, till 2 pm around 32,000 health workers across UP were given the second doses. He said 23,620 health workers were given first dose in the first round vaccinatio­n drive held on January 16, Prasad said.

In Tamil Nadu, less than 50% health workers meant to take the second doses have taken it yet. state health secretary J Radhakrish­nan took a second shot of Covaxin on Monday urged people to come forward for the second dose.

“Our numbers are steadily going up... But there is too

BIHAR

10,034

164

3,928

MIZORAM

5,231

12,101

ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR

182

TRIPURA 308 MANIPUR

277

much informatio­n, some of it not scientific­ally proven that it is beneficial to take the second dose with a longer interval, because of which we haven’t had a lot of people taking the second dose in time,” Radhakrish­nan said.

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