Covaxin demand to spike as 2nd dose cycle for 18+ begins

Gurgaon: Vaccination centres will need a lot more doses of Covaxin May-end onwards than they have had so far with the second dose cycle getting under way for the 18-44 population amid a continuing supply crunch.
So far in May, 76,284 people in the 18-44 age group have taken their first shot of Covaxin in Haryana, of whom 6,462 were in Gurgaon. Vaccinations for this age group began on May 1. The recommended interval for the second dose of Covaxin is 28-42 days (four to six weeks). This month, the state has received 1.1 lakh Covaxin doses for the 18-44 group and 50,000 doses for the 45-plus population. If Covaxin inoculations are to continue at the same pace as they are now, Haryana will need at least double the doses in June.
In all, 93,673 people have received Covaxin doses in the 45+ category in Gurgaon. Of them, 28,101 people are due for their second dose in June. A total of 6,36,374 recipients have got Covaxin across Haryana so far, and 2,86,819 will become eligible for their second dose in the coming weeks. For the 45-plus category, the state receives vaccines from the central pool. However, for the 18-44 age group, it is procuring directly from the company making the vaccine — in this case, Bharat Biotech.
Due to shortage, Covaxin inoculations have been stopped in Gurgaon at government session sites for the 18-44 age group. “We have not been giving Covaxin to the 18-44 age group for the last three days because Gurgaon has exhausted all Covaxin doses. At present, we have Covaxin only for the 45-plus population. We will reopen 18-44 Covaxin slots once we receive a fresh consignment,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.
As a result, many are worried about their second dose. “I have my second dose of Covaxin due on June 2. I am not sure how long I have to wait for it,” said Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Sector 54. Gaurav Sethi, a Sector 50 resident, added, “Vaccinations have become very erratic of late. Although some private hospitals are also giving Covaxin, getting a slot is tough.”
Senior health department officials told TOI they are hopeful of vaccine stocks improving by mid-June. “We are expecting smooth supply by mid-June, and thus we will be able to inoculate people who will be due for their second Covaxin doses in June,” said state immunisation officer Dr Virender Ahlawat, who is overseeing the vaccination drive. “We are following up with the manufacturing firms for the vaccine doses. We are confident that we will receive the doses soon. Of course, there is limited production of vaccines and thus we are not getting a timeline for the consignment,” he added.
Asked if the Haryana government would give priority to second dose recipients in case adequate Covaxin doses do not become available in June, Dr Ahlawat added, “Yes, we will give priority to second dose recipients. Earlier, too, we had given preference to people who needed to get the second dose. We may halt first doses and administer second doses to recipients.”