In a remarkable uptick of the national immunity and inoculation programme, around 44.05% of eligible beneficiaries in Rajasthan have received the 'third' precautionary dose. The highest shareholder of this tally is elderlies - aged over 60 years and with comorbidities, with about 49.4% coverage. Around 38.7% of health workers and frontline workers are been booster inoculated, read reports.

Priority administration of COVID-19 'third' shots

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The nationwide drive for COVID-19 third shot was launched 34 days ago, to provide booster protection against the rising threat of the pandemic. As per reports, the health department has launched a priority programme for the same, for health and frontline workers along with those aged over 60 years with comorbidities. Officials have highlighted that these segments are being targeted first since they are more prone to COVID virulence and deaths.

As per reports, vaccination figures for this particular dose have seen better progress among elderlies than healthcare and frontline officials. Since the start of February, precautionary shot coverage among HCWs and FLWs has scaled by only 4.6%, from 34.1% to 38.7%, while that of the 60+ age category has jumped from 37.7% to 49.4%.

With this, Rajasthan third shot for elderlies is nearing the even 50% coverage mark, Dr Raghuraj Singh, project director (vaccination) Health Department said. Since elderlies are more vulnerable to COVID and consequent infections, they need to take the booster doses, he added.

- with inputs from TOI