NAGPUR: Across 11 districts of Vidarbha, 54,922 (34.45%) of total 1,59,427 registered health care workers have taken the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in last 14 days. The state government has decided not to continue vaccination programme on Saturday, to prepare for the pulse polio vaccination slated for Sunday, leaving eight days to cover the remaining 1,04,505 health care staff.
The government had launched vaccination programme on January 16. Inoculations happened on nine of the last 14 days. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) was the only one to conduct the vaccination on 10 days.
Despite scheduling 120-150 doctors, nurses, technicians, attendants etc from government and private hospitals per centre, less than 60% have turned up for inoculation in the region.
The government had set a deadline of February 14 for completing first dose of all registered health care staff and commencement of second dose from February 15. The authorities will get only eight days to cover the remaining 1,04,505 health care workers, including those who did not turn up despite their names featuring in the schedule in last nine sessions.
On Friday, 8,010 health care staff took the jab. The authorities claimed 72.16% vaccination, though it was calculated against 100 per centre despite scheduling of 120-150 per centre. Vaccination was conducted at 111 centres in the region.
In Nagpur city, NMC reduced two centres on Friday. There were two centres at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), and NMC Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital. Due to low turnout, the civic body closed down one centre at IGGMCH and NMC Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital.
NMC gave permission to commence vaccination centre at Alexis Hospital. Number of centres in private hospitals increased to nine. Eight centres are in NMC and government-run hospitals.
At the nine vaccination centres at private hospitals, 768 turned up to achieve 85.33% vaccination.
The team of Alexis Hospital led by infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde ensured vaccination of 100 staffers on the first day with no wastage. CIIMS, Wockhardt and Kingsway surpassed the day’s target of 100 per centre.
Vaccination was 52.75% in eight centres located in NMC and government-run hospitals, as only 422 took the dose.
At AIIMS, only six took the jab. NMC officials told TOI, “Very few registered health care workers of AIIMS were left for vaccination and scheduled on Friday. Staff of a private hospital situated in the city was scheduled to report at AIIMS. But they did not go and take the jab. We will monitor the turnout at AIIMS on Monday and will take a decision whether to change the site or continue it.”
Though situated in city limits, AIIMS is located in MIHAN, on the city’s outskirts.
Vice-president of Maharashtra Medical Council Dr Vinky Rughwani took the jab on Friday. “Getting vaccinated not only protects one against the virus but also boosts morale of researchers who tirelessly toiled for it. It is the duty of each and every citizen to protect themselves and others,” he said.
One centre each was increased in Akola and Amravati districts on Friday.
Among 11 districts in the region, Bhandara and Akola achieved 100% or more. At Bhandara, 575 took the jab to achieve 115% of target. At Wardha too, 1,105 turned up for inoculation for 100.45% turnout.
The wastage of vaccine doses has continued across the region due to lack of 100% turnout and improper planning. In Nagpur district, 118 doses went waste on Friday, 60 in city and 58 in rural. Total wastage was 6.05%, which was under permissible limit of 10%.
Vials comprising 1,250 and 700 doses were utilized in city and rural respectively, on Friday, when 1,190 took the jab in city and 642 in rural. Thus, 1,832 of total 1,950 doses were actually used for wastage of 118 doses in the district.