Covid-19: Confusion over vaccination continues in Gujarat

AHMEDABAD/ SURAT: While all adults are eligible to get vaccinated now, unavailability of slots is leaving many disappointed. Lack of adequate number of vaccine vials across various parts of the state has left vaccine slots getting filled faster and becoming unavailable to most.
Particularly most shaken are those who have already taken their first shot of vaccine but have failed to find the next available slot. Sources confirmed that the lack of availability of vaccine stocks has compelled state authorities to slow down the vaccination process.
On the other hand, a small controversy erupted on Thursday morning in Ahmedabad after officials of Khokhra Urban Health Centre (UHC) claimed that they were instructed to not give first dose of the vaccine to frontline workers. An audio in this regard had gone viral. Meanwhile, vaccination picked up in Ahmedabad with 34,400 doses being administered across 217 vaccination centres. On Tuesday, there was a little above 14,000 vaccination doses given after vaccines ran out.
In Surat, on Wednesday, vaccination dropped drastically across 66 centres in the city. Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials claim that 6,521 doses were administered in the city across 66 centres .
Susim Mohanty, an Ahmedabad-based communications professional, said, “I took my first shot and the second one is already due. The slot availability is a concern and I am clueless on what to do.”
Similar is the scenario in other major cities of Gujarat too. The Surat Municipal Corporation had to suspended vaccination for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the dearth of stock.
However, fresh stock of the vaccines was provided by the state government on Wednesday, which is likely to last for the next two to three days. An official said that 49 sessions of vaccination have been planned for those above 45 years, healthcare and frontline workers, while those between 18 and 44 years will have to choose the slot by registering on CoWin application.