Kerala achieves milestone in Covid vaccination, administers vaccine to over two crore people in 223 days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has achieved a key milestone in Covid vaccination. Minister Veena George said the first dose of the vaccine has been given to more than 2 crore people (2,00,04,196) in the state. This is very comforting when the state is in a big fight against Covid. The government is trying to make it safe for as many people as possible by giving at least one dose of the vaccine. It is expected that this target will be achieved by September itself. The target was achieved within 223 days of the start of vaccination in the state on January 16.

Vaccination has been strengthened through the vaccination drive. The vaccination drive in the state started on August 9. So far, 54,07,847 doses of the vaccine have been administered through the vaccination drive. Considering daily number, more than 5 lakh people were vaccinated twice and more than 4 lakh people were vaccinated thrice as part of the drive.

So far 2,72,54,255 people have been vaccinated in the state. Of these, 2,00,04,196 were given the first dose and 72,50,059 were given the second dose. The first dose was given to 56.51 per cent and the second dose to 20.48 per cent. 69.70 per cent over 18 years of age were given the first dose and 25.26 per cent were given the second dose. This is much higher than the national average. The percentage of second dose recipients is more than double the national average.

Women are the leading recipients of the vaccine. If both doses are taken into account, then 1,41,75,570 doses were given to women and 1,30,72,847 doses to men. 93,89,283 doses were given to those between 18 and 44 years of age, 89,98,496 doses to those between 45 and 60 years of age, and 88,66,476 doses to those over 60 years of age.

Today, 2,47,451 people were vaccinated as part of the state's vaccination drive. There were 1,536 vaccination centers, including 1,158 government centers and 378 private centers.

The state also received 6,55,070 doses of vaccine. 4,65,000 doses of Covishield vaccine and 1,90,070 doses Covaxin were provided. Thiruvananthapuram received 1,57,500 doses, Ernakulam 1,83,000 doses and Kozhikode 1,24,500 doses of Covishield vaccine. Thiruvananthapuram received 30,500 doses Ernakulam 35,450 doses and Kozhikode received 1,24,120 doses of Covaxin.