The Tribune - Few takers for paid booster, can't be complacent: AIIMS

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Few takers for paid booster, can't be complacent: AIIMS

Link [2022-04-15 04:35:26]

New Delhi, April 14

Amid a sluggish start to the booster-for-all-adults drive, AIIMS-Delhi Director Randeep Guleria on Thursday urged eligible beneficiaries to take the precaution dose and regain immunity to Sars-Cov2 virus.

The booster numbers have been woefully low since the drive began this Sunday. While 16,352 paid precaution doses were administered to adults (18 to 59-year-olds) on Wednesday, 62,683 paid booster doses have been administered to the eligible since Sunday, making it a very low acceptance rate.

Low acceptance

16,352 paid precaution doses given to adults on Wednesday 62,683 paid boosters given since Sunday, when drive began

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Experts are concerned about the slow start to the booster drive as daily new cases remained above 1,000 for the second consecutive day today and several states reported a slight rise in infections and positivity rate.

Nationally, the active cases have also increased to 11,058 after remaining below 10,000 for several days.

Guleria blamed booster hesitancy to complacency and general Covid fatigue. "Unlike in the past when Covid-19 invoked fear and anxiety, it is no longer such a dreaded disease now. People are less afraid due to the declining infections and have become complacent," said Guleria.

He warned beneficiaries against booster hesitancy saying available scientific data suggested that immunity waned with the passage of time and people with comorbid conditions had lower immunity after a period of time, which was why precaution doses were important. "Covid-19 has not ended. New variants can surface any time. We know that with time immunity reduces and those with comorbidities become vulnerable," said Guleria.