Chennai has vaccinated most people with both doses among top 5 metros

Chennai has vaccinated most people with both doses among top 5 metros

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  22.07.2021 

This southern metro has vaccinated the highest percentage of eligible population with two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, compared to other top metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, an analysis done by the GCC based on data collected from Co-Win portal showed. As on July 20, 9.11 lakh people have received both doses of Covid vaccine in Chennai. This forms 15% of the eligible population

(59.45 lakh) and 12% of the total population (78.53 lakh).

In comparison, in Mumbai, the corresponding figures of eligible population and total population vaccinated with both doses are 11% and 8%, respectively.

Bengaluru is second best after Chennai, with 15% of eligible population and 10% of the total population vaccinated with both doses. The corresponding figures for Delhi are 10% and 7%, while Hyderabad vaccinated 8% and 6%, respectively.

A senior official from Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said this was because of dedicated measures taken by the civic body. “Through our tele-counselling centres, we called up those who were due for their second dose. Fever survey workers also visited vulnerable citizens to inform them about their second dose. Special camps were held for those whose second dose was due,” the official said.

However, in Bengaluru, 60% of the eligible population has been vaccinated with a single dose, while in Chennai this figure stands at 45%.

Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, infectious disease expert, said this shows the level of awareness about vaccination in an urban centre like Chennai. He said the TN government must work harder to have similar success in rural parts of the state.

Dr Swaminathan said we are nowhere near where we need to be. “We must go faster. Moreover, there is a sharp drop in the number of people coming to vaccination centres in Chennai. Authorities must change their approach to vaccination awareness now,” he said.

Bengaluru comes second with 15% of eligible population and 10% of the total population vaccinated with both doses