Bengaluru may run out of vaccine stock in a day or two

BENGALURU: Supply shortages, hospitals caught up in treating Covid patients, lack of staff to administer the jab and restrictions on movement of people are all factors hindering the vaccination drive in Bengaluru, as many seeking the second dose on Saturday were either told there were no doses available or asked to return another day.
Bengaluru was left with just 52,000 doses as on Sunday evening — stock which may be sufficient for less than two days at a conservative estimate. On Saturday, only 24,155 people were vaccinated in Bengaluru, while 42,395 doses were administered on Friday.
With Karnataka gearing up to inoculate those aged above 18 from May 1, it desperately needs fresh supply. The halth department estimates that about 3.2 crore people fall in this age bracket — the largest chunk to be covered.
A communications professional who took her mother and mother-in-law for their second doses on Saturday was turned away at three vaccination sites in south Bengaluru. She was told doses were unavailable. She managed to get them inoculated at a fourth site late in the afternoon.
BBMP, which had set its sights on covering one lakh people a day, now administers just 30,000 to 40,000 doses a day. Officials and hospitals say they can inoculate more people if they have enough supply, but short supply is hindering the drive.
Dr Yateesh Govindaiah, unit head, Apollo super speciality hospital, Jayanagar, said: “Supply from BBMP has been limited. We are unable to administer vaccines to our fullest capacity for this reason.”
Rajendra Cholan, special commissioner, health, BBMP, admitted there is a supplydemand gap. “We’ve asked for more doses from the government and supplies are expected shortly,” Cholan told TOI.
Sources say each BBMP primary health centre gets only 30 vials each. “PHCs have to re-distribute it to all hospitals in their jurisdiction,” an official said. “So, hospitals are getting about 20-30 doses. In some areas, MLAs have taken the initiative to hold sessions in parks and apartments in their localities. About 350-400 people are vaccinated at these camps but they don’t get enough doses.”
At one camp in Vivekananda Park, near Girinagar on Saturday, stock was exhausted by 1.30pm. Senior citizens who visited the facility around 2 pm were asked to return on Wednesday.
With all hospitals now treating Covid patients, BBMP officials say many senior citizens are reluctant to visit for the shot and prefer to take it in apartments or special drives in makeshift sites organised by BBMP.
Lack of staff
Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) admit that some hospitals have stopped administering the shot due to lack of staff. “With increase in cases, our staff are stretched and work more than 18 hours a day. We are finding it difficult to run both vaccination centres as well Covid treatment. Someone must constantly engage with BBMP officials for supply of the vaccines and they give us just 2-3 vials. That hardly meets demand and we are forced to send people away after making them wait,” said a PHANA member, who runs a hospital near West of Chord Road.
Some bigger hospitals, which can conduct multiple sessions a day, worry over the extended drive from May 1. “We feel bad for people running from pillar to post to get inoculated, but we are also helpless. We can do 300 vaccinations a day, but we can’t due to a lack of doses,” said Dr Reshma N, unit head, Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain hospital, Girinagar.