Covid: Tepid response to booster dose in Chandigarh, may hamper drive

Naina Mishra

Advertisement

Chandigarh, April 15

Private hospitals in the city are hesitant to purchase the Covid-19 vaccine from the manufacturer after witnessing a tepid response to the paid booster shot from residents. This may hamper the booster vaccination drive for adults as private hospitals reportedly have 1,400 doses of the vaccine left with them from the old stock.

The Central Government had approved the booster shot for all adults above 18 years and the drive started on April 10. Till now, only 355 persons have taken their booster dose in private hospitals in the city. The booster shot is available at only private centres for Rs. 386 (Covishield) for individuals between 18 and 59 years. Those who are above 60 years can take the vaccine at any government health facility.

Besides the slow response, one of the reasons behind private hospitals showing little enthusiasm in purchasing new stock of the vaccine is the reduction in the price of the vaccine now. The private hospitals had purchased the vaccine at a higher amount and now they have been asked to vaccinate at half price.

Dr RS Bedi from Bedi Hospital, Sector 33, said, “The response is poor and is nothing in comparison to what was seen in earlier phases. People feel that there is no urgency in taking the booster shot as Covid-19 has subsided to a great extent. We are not willing to purchase new stock of the vaccine as we are already incurring losses by inoculating at lower prices. We have 600 doses of the vaccine with us.” Dr Hardeep Santok from Santokh Hospital, Sector 38, said, “The manufacturer has asked about the stock left with us and conveyed that more doses will be sent to compensate for the losses incurred. We are not planning to buy fresh stock.”

There are 20,530 beneficiaries above 60 years who have taken the booster shot in government facilities, while there are 8,22,115 beneficiaries in the city who are yet to take the booster dose.

Among healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs), only 15.26 per cent (4,005) HWCs and 29.17 per cent (6,542) FLWs have taken the third dose till now even as the drive was started for this category two months ago. The sluggish response in this category of beneficiaries has been attributed to HCWs acquiring the Covid-19 infection in the third wave. Beneficiaries who have got infected with Covid-19 have been asked to wait for three months before they consider taking the booster dose. Those who have completed nine months from the day their second shot was administered will be eligible for the third dose.

People feel there’s no urgency

The response is poor. People feel there is no urgency in taking the booster shot as Covid-19 has subsided to a great extent. We are not willing to purchase new stock. — Dr RS Bedi, Bedi Hospital, Sec 33