THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George on Friday said that 70 percent of the eligible population of Kerala have got inoculated with both first and second doses of the Covid vaccine. While 96.87 (2,58,72,847) percent of the eligible population have received the first dose of the vaccine, 70.37 (1,87,96,209) percent have received the second dose. A total of 4,46,69,056 doses were administered, including the first and second doses. This is well above the national average. At the national level, 86.52 percent of the population have received the first dose, while 53.84 percent received the second dose, the minister said.

A special Covid vaccination drive is underway in the state as part of strengthening the fight against Covid in the wake of reports of Omicron variant in foreign countries. The aim is to identify the people who are yet to get vaccinated with the second dose in collaboration with the local government representatives and vaccinate them. Daily vaccinations have also increased as part of the special vaccination drive.