PRAYAGRAJ: The debate over
vaccine stock and the fear of its shortage created a rush among recipients above 45 years who made a beeline for a jab at the vaccination centres in the city on Friday.
When asked about the vaccine supply, the officials of the
health department clarified that a new consignment of vaccine will reach the city by Saturday evening or Sunday morning and then vaccination will be conducted at all 97 sites. On Wednesday and Thursday, vaccination was underway at only 34 sites compared to 97 sites before due to a shortage of vaccines.
Apart from the 11 vaccination sites in the urban parts witnessing a heavy rush of recipients, scores of beneficiaries also moved towards the rural-based 20 community health centres to get inoculated. In the past five days (from April 3-8), over 48,000 beneficiaries were vaccinated at different sites in the city.
Nodal Officer (vaccination) Dr Teerath Lal told TOI that vaccination was carried out at 34 sites in the city on Wednesday and Thursday instead of 97 sites due to a shortage of vaccine. He also made it clear that the department will get a new consignment of the vaccine on Saturday evening or Sunday morning and then vaccination would resume at all the 97 sites.
On Friday, vaccination was conducted on 33 sites (one less than Wednesday and Thursday) including 13 sites in urban and 20 sites in rural community health centres. As there was a shortage of vaccine, only 34 sites were selected on April 7, 8 and 9 whereas vaccination was carried at all the 97 sites on April 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. No vaccination was carried out on Sunday (April 4).
From April 1, the vaccination sites were witnessing a sizable flow of beneficiaries because of the rising
Covid cases. Officials said that the jabs would be made available in both government hospitals, community \ primary health centres and private hospitals six days a week.
Officials added that beneficiaries have two options: one, walk-in at centres with required documents or pre-register at CoWIN 2.0 portal. The second is to go to the scheduled place at the allotted time. “At every centre, vaccination slots have been divided between pre-registered and walk-in ratio,” said an official.
On Friday, many persons above the age of 45 years, mostly related or family members, moved to rural-based community health centres in trans-Ganga and Yamuna pocket to get vaccinated. After taking a jab at
CHC in trans -Ganga, a 49-year-old beneficiary said, “When I noticed rush at a government hospital in the city, I along with other recipients decided to move towards CHC. He also added that CHCs have also witnessed a sizeable crowd of beneficiaries with people lined up for their turn.”
“The rising level of awareness among the target group of recipients in rural areas has encouraged them to rush to community health centres to get vaccinated,” said an official.