Mumbaikars won’t be fully vaccinated by February

This picture has been used for representational purposes

If the gap between the two doses is not reduced, vaccination against COVID-19 in Mumbai will not be completed before February, as 5 lakh people have taken their first dose in November.

The state government was given a target of vaccinating 92.36 lakh people in Mumbai. Though the city achieved 100 per cent first dose vaccination on November 13, people are still coming for their first dose. Between November 13 and 29, 2.61 lakh people took the first dose. Considering the gap of 84 days between two doses of Covishield, they will have to wait till February for the second dose. Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC said, "We have written a letter to the central government and requested reduction of the gap between two doses. If they allow we will try and complete giving the second dose till mid-January."

Amid the fear of the Omicron variant, the BMC wants the city to be fully vaccinated as early as possible, but the duration between two doses is a major hurdle. "The supply of vaccines is now streamlined and we have infrastructure but we cannot give the second jab due to central guidelines regarding the gap between doses," said an official from the BMC.