Nagpur: A day after Union health minister Harsh Vardhan claimed that there is no shortage of Covid-19 vaccine in the country, Gondia district on Wednesday could not start inoculation as it had just 20 doses in the kitty. People reportedly visited 104 vaccination centres and returned without getting the jab. The district vaccinates around 5,000 people every day.
TOI had on Wednesday reported on the likelihood of the vaccination programme taking a hit in Gondia district.
Officials from Gondia district told TOI that only one centre — a private hospital — was left with the 20 doses on Tuesday night. “Those are probably already used. The other 103 centres could not start vaccination as they have no doses. As we are not likely to get any stock from the government, no vaccination can be done on Thursday too,” they said.
Gondia vaccinated 5,651 at 104 vaccination centres on April 4. The centres reduced to 80 due to shortage of doses the next day and only 4,751 could be jabbed. On Tuesday, only 10 centres operated and 1,318 got vaccinated. Gondia has been using Covishield doses since vaccine roll out on January 16.
On Tuesday, Vardhan told all state health ministers that the Centre will continuously replenish the vaccine stock. “States should vaccinate the prioritized groups in a mission mode. The Centre is providing the required quantities to all states and UTs,” he added.
Even the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) tweeted that there is no shortage of doses.
According to officials of Amravati division, the number of centres in its districts — Yavatmal, Akola, Buldhana and Washim — were reduced on Wednesday due to shortage of doses. “Vaccination is going on at centres where doses are available. There is no stock available in the storerooms,” they said.
Nagpur Rural is also left with stock sufficient for Wednesday. Similarly, the Government Medical College and Hospital is having doses of Covaxin enough for Wednesday. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has already stopped Covaxin at four centres and started introduced Covishield four days ago.