Erratic supply hits vax drive in Panchkula

Amit Bathla

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Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 5

The erratic vaccine supply has forced the district administration here to reduce the number of vaccination centers by more than 50 per cent in a week. From 33 vaccination centres on June 28, the vaccination took place at just 16 centres today.

According to the latest vaccine bulletin, the district is left with just 1,470 doses of Covishield and 4,940 doses of Covaxin. As a result, the Health Department has decided to further cut down the number of vaccination centers.

Tomorrow, the vaccination will take place at only 14 centres, said the officials concerned. Of these, five will be at private hospitals and one at the Governor House in Chandigarh. Only 2,354 people were inoculated today.

Though the district had managed to administer, on an average, 4,800 doses daily between June 21 and July 4, the shortage in supply is likely to disturb the upward Covid-19 vaccination graph.

The district had administered a record 18,724 doses at 65 centres in a mega vaccination drive on June 21, when the Centre’s new vaccine policy came into existence. It had boosted the morale of the local health officials and they were keen on carrying forward the trend as they had been assured of ample supplies.

However, the inadequate supply has once again proved to be a major roadblock in the administration’s plan to speed up the vaccination drive.

On June 21, after administering 18,724 doses in the mega vaccination drive, the district’s vaccine stock stood at 22,180 doses of Covishield and 3,720 doses of Covaxin. Although the supply has improved as compared to the past months, the free flow of vaccine remains a distant dream.

District Immunisation Officer Dr Meenu Sasan said they had received no communication from the authorities on when the district would receive the fresh stock. “The fresh doses are yet to reach the district. We are running the drive with whatever vaccine is in stock,” she said.