Need a vaccine certificate in AP? Pay Rs 500

Andhra Pradesh: Murali (name changed) from Kakinada wanted to visit Tirupati. He got his tickets booked for the darshan. But, he was confused about how to get his vaccination certificate because he had not taken a second jab. All he did was get a fake certificate morphed by changing the name and other details from the available vaccine certificate.

In another case, Sashi (name changed) from Visakhapatnam got his first dose vaccine certificate after which he developed a frequent headache. He assumed it was due to the vaccine. Therefore he decided not to take second jab.

However, he needed a fully vaccinated certificate to travel to another country. Therefore he paid a bribe of Rs 500 to get the certificate.

These are not isolated incidents. This has been a common scenario across the state. Many individuals are not missing the second dose vaccination deadline. At times when the vaccine was out of reach and people had to stand in queue, many volunteers in Sachivalayam administered the vaccine by taking Rs 500-1000 for one dose.

Now, even though the vaccine is readily available, many with wrong assumptions of side effects are not taking a second jab.

According Health Department sources, there are many who believe that vaccination is not a solution for COVID. They believe that people can test positive even after taking a jab. "People do not understand that vaccine in fact helps to control the severity levels of the COVID," sources said.

*Automatic messages on the second dose:

Surprisingly, those who are yet to get their second dose vaccine have already received a message that they got administered with second dose vaccination. According to the official sources, due to technical glitches message went out automatically.

There are also many employees in the government sector, who received similar messages even before they got their second dose vaccination.

"I haven't taken my second dose vaccination. But after 60 days, I received a second dose message. I also got a call from a person from the government portal asking for details about the second dose vaccination. Even now, I have my two-dose vaccination certificate in the portal. Surprisingly, I got two vaccination slots in the portal with my name and two different date of birth", said Surya (name changed).

*Booster dose:

Now, the time has come for the booster dose vaccine in view of the Omicron. While the booster dose is to be initially given to frontline workers, there are many individuals who are getting administered with the dose by paying money. In many districts, booster doses are administered secretly for individuals for Rs 500-Rs 800.

Till 7 January, 7,19,51,192 doses were administered. Of with 4,16,05,911 people received first dose and 3,03,45,281 second dose.

Doses in each district:

East Godavari: 76,85,838

Krishna: 68,31,768

Guntur: 68,02,398

Chittoor: 64,21,515

Visakhapatnam: 61,80,176

West Godavari: 58,72,636

Anantapur: 58,36,694

Kurnool: 54,98,435

Prakasam: 50,09,294

Nellore: 45,32,062

Kadapa: 41,13,134

Srikakulam: 37,95,793

Vizianagaram: 33,71,449