Covishield supply limited, govt mulls other options

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 26

With a limited vaccine supply from the Serum Institute of India (SII), the Himachal Government is exploring alternatives, including purchasing Covaxin or Sputnik vaccines on its own, so as to be able to cover the maximum population.

The Health and Family Welfare has worked out the cost of procuring the alternative vaccines but the biggest constraint is the huge funds required. It has been reliably learnt that the cost for acquiring 72 lakh Covaxin doses will be Rs 432 crore at the rate of Rs 600 per dose. On the other hand, the total cost of purchasing 72 lakh doses of Sputnik at the rate of Rs 948 per dose will cost the state another Rs 682 crore.

The issue was taken up at the Cabinet meeting two days ago. As the supply of Covishield from the SII is likely to be slow and long drawn, the Health Department is contemplating to procure Sputnik and Covaxin from other manufacturers. However, the Council of Ministers will take the final call on acquiring the vaccines from sources other than the SII to vaccinate the 18 plus age group in the state.

So far, 18.70 lakh people have been administered the first dose of Covishield in the state. “A total of 23,06,478 doses supplied by the Central Government have been administered to people, including 83,614 health care workers and 80,605 frontline workers, who have got the first jab,” said Nipun Jindal, Director of the National Health Mission.

A total of 4,35,501 people have received the second dose of Covishield so far. In the above 45 years age group, 16.46 lakh people have been vaccinated, including 3.24 lakh persons who have been administered the second dose also.

In the 18-44 years age group, 60,210 people have been administered the first dose of Covishield procured by the state from the SII directly from its own resources. Tomorrow, 21,235 persons will receive the jab at 214 vaccination centres in various districts. The next vaccination drive will take place on May 31.