Herd immunity is possible in Gujrat only after vaccinating 70 per cent of population

During the vaccination campaign that started in the state of Gujrat on January 16, as many as 93 per cent of the frontline corona warriors were given the first and second dose of the vaccine. According to experts, it is necessary to have 70 per cent of the population vaccinated to have herd immunity.

Gandhinagar: Vaccination is the most important means to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Those who had taken the vaccine during the second wave of the pandemic were infected less and if at all they were infected there were fewer fatalities. During the vaccination campaign that started in the state of Gujrat on January 16, as many as 93 per cent of the frontline corona warriors were given the first and second dose of the vaccine. According to experts, it is necessary to have 70 per cent of the population vaccinated to have herd immunity.

Gujarat has a population of 6.50 crore of which according to the health department as many as 1,49,50,228 people have received both the first and second dose of the vaccine. This means, 23 per cent of the population has received the vaccine so far.

According to government sources, at present, there is a shortage of supply of vaccine against its demand but by December maximum number of people in the state will be vaccinated.

According to NHM Director and health department officer Mukesh Pandya, the government has been constantly trying to procure more vaccine and has been holding virtual meetings with Dr Reddy’s laboratory to import the Sputnik vaccine. The government is also trying to procure vaccine from other sources.

Even as the vaccination drive has been started after the cyclone, the government has a stock of 3,76,810 doses of vaccine after the state received an additional 75,000 doses of the vaccine. It will be receiving 2,75,000 more doses of vaccine in the next two days.

Details of vaccine

18,54,896 First dose to frontline workers.

10,01,224 Second dose to frontline workers

87,01,749 First dose to 45+ age group.

28,34,788 Second dose to 45+ age group.

5,57,571 First dose to 18 to 45 years

Total 1,49,50,228 people have been vaccinated.

More dose will be available after vaccines are produced in Gujarat once the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech starts producing vaccine in its Ankleshwar plant, the state is expected to get at least a 50 per cent share of the vaccines.