After initial hesitation, people want Covaxin doses now

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, May 30

Of the 5,18,000 people vaccinated in the district so far, a whopping 4,80,000 chose the Covishield vaccine while only 37,000 received Covaxin. While, initially, residents were hesitating about getting the Covaxin jab in the district, the vaccine is now much sought after. However, due to limited supply, only a few have been able to get the Covaxin jab.

Notably, until Thursday, 5,18,000 people received the jab in the district, out of which 80,000 took the second dose. On Saturday, 3,200 people received the jab. Of them, 350 beneficiaries went for Covaxin doses and the rest for Covishield doses.

Notably, initially, Covaxin vaccination got off to a poor start in the district with considerably lesser doses, its pace is now picking up. Amidst the poor availability of Covaxin, the special pilot project started by the Deputy Commissioner for three sessions sites has found many takers with 1,000 jab slots booked within hours. The DC extended the vaccines from an initial 1,000 to 5,000.

Of the 40 session sites in the district, at present only two — Garha and Maqsoodan — administer Covaxin. Barring these, the 3 session sites announced by the DC are administering Covaxin only for those logging through a website.

In the district, the Covaxin dose has so far been received by 38,000 people out of whom 25,000 have received the first dose and 13,000 have received the second dose. In the midst of this, a separate pilot project to people to get paid tabs by preregistering themsleves and getting vaccinated at Rs 500.

Meanwhile, of the fresh vaccine doses received on Friday, 7,000 were Covishiled vaccines while 5,000 were Covaxin doses.

District Immunisation Officer Dr Rakesh Chopra said, “We can only administer the number of vaccines we receive. Since we had lesser Covaxins lesser people have received the doses. However, now there is much demand. We are first competing vaccination process of all people due for the second dose of the Covaxin. Only once this is finished will we be able Covaxin vaccination for those getting first doses again.”