Shot in the arm for boosters: Demand jumps 20% as Covid cases spike

On Saturday, the daily vaccination in the state touched 100,000, said Sachin Desai, state immunisation officer

Amid forecasts of a spike in the number of Covid cases with new strains of Omicron - BA.4 and BA.5 - spreading rapidly and the impending threat of an elusive fourth wave, there is renewed interest in the booster shot for those already vaccinated.

Demand for the precautionary shot or the third dose has gone up nearly 20 per cent in the past 10-12 days, reveals data.

As India’s case positivity rate crossed 1 per cent after two months on Monday, fears of catching a severe infection is getting people to the vaccination centres.

Maharashtra and Mumbai in particular, which are again witnessing