64% turn up to take Covid vaccine in first 2 days: report

Around 64% of over 3 lakh planned beneficiaries were vaccinated on the first two days of the immunisation drive against Covid-19 that was rolled out on Saturday, The Times of India has reported quoting the govt data compiled till Sunday evening.

The report added that 4 states — Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Tripura and Puducherry — recorded low turnout of beneficiaries in the range of 22-34%. Other states reported more than 50% attendance of those who were scheduled for vaccination on January 16 and 17. Assam, Delhi and J&K reported 54% footfall.

Experts said the numbers will pick up gradually as is common with any public health programme, especially of the scale of the anti-Covid vaccinations.

“India has registered the highest day one vaccination number in the world — higher than the US, UK and France on day one,” additional health secretary Manohar Agnani said.