Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has decided to complete administering the second dose of COVID vaccines to all those above 18 years in the State.
The State government fixed the new target after it managed to administer the first dose to all those above 18 years of age.
Health Minister Veena George said that anyone who has not taken the first dose till now should report to the nearby vaccination centre at the earliest.
Almost 83 percent (2,22,28,284 persons) were given the second dose. Only 17 percent of the population remain to be administered the second dose. As many as 20 lakh doses of Covishield and seven lakh doses of Covaxin are available.
It has been reported that a section of people are still reluctant to take the second dose. With the help of the local bodies and the health workers, steps will be taken to administer vaccines to all, the Minister said.
As many 66 percent of teenagers (10,01 169 persons) in the age group of 15 to 17 years have been given vaccines.
CONTRADICTION IN FIGURES
But there are variations in the figures released by the Health Department and the Education Department regarding the number of teenagers who were given vaccines.
The Health Department claimed it to be 66 percent while the Education Department pegged it at 62.1 percent resulting in a four percent variation in figures.
Everyday, the vaccination figures from schools are uploaded in the comprehensive software meant for it. The final figures are calculated by the Education Department based on these inputs.
Schools will not function as vaccination centres today due to strict lockdown-like restrictions clamped by the government on Sundays.
MINISTER'S PLEA TO PVT HOSPITALS
Health Minister Veena George urged the private hospital managements to set apart 50 percent of hospital beds to COVID patients.
Such a directive was given in view of the increasing number of serious COVID patients in the State.
The details of the COVID patients and other patients must be submitted daily to the respective District Medical Officer by the private hospitals. It should contain the details of ICU and ventilator patients.
Stern action under the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Act will be taken against the private hospitals which fail to submit these daily figures.