The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare termed low vaccination coverage among Healthcare Workers (HCW) and Frontline Workers (FLW), especially for the second dose for both the priority groups as a cause of serious concern.  

“While the national average for the 1st dose administration among the HCWs is 82%, the national average for 2nd dose among HCWs is only 56%,” Health Ministry said in a release.

“18 States/UTs including Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Assam have coverage below the national average in this aspect,” it added.

The Health Ministry further highlighted that for FLWs, the national average of 1st dose coverage is 85% but the national average of second dose coverage for FLWs is only 47%.

“19 States/UTs have reported 2nd dose coverage of FLWs less than the national average. Among them are Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Telangana, Karnataka, and Punjab,” it added.

The Health Ministry said the states were told to sharpen their focus and prepare an effective plan for expediting the second dose vaccine coverage for the HCWs and FLWs.

“The States were asked to dedicate special time slots or sessions for the exercise,” it added.

India till yesterday had administered cumulatively more than 24 crore (24,24,79,167) vaccine doses.

More than one crore HCW have taken the 1st dose while over 69.11 lakh of them have taken the 2nd dose in India.

Over 1.64 crore FLWs have received the 1st dose and nearly 87.51 lakh of them have got the 2nd dose.