First dose of Covaxin not administered for last one month in city

Nagpur: The wait many for first dose of Covaxin has got longer. For a month now the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has stopped administering first dose of Covaxin.
The civic body on Thursday received 1,600 Covaxin doses. NMC officials told TOI, “State government is yet to allow resuming first dose of Covaxin for 45-plus. The government has asked us to give only second dose of Covaxin. Second dose is available at GMCH, Mahal Diagnostic Centre and Khobragade Hall situated at Siddharth Nagar.” NMC stopped giving first dose of Covaxin from May 5.
A resident of Vitthal Rukmini Nagar Shakuntala Tripathi, 71, told TOI, “I had undergone two surgeries including one for cancer. I was waiting for advice from doctors for taking vaccine. Doctor suggested Covaxin to me. But no centre in city is ready to give first dose for last one month.”
As per doctors, adverse event following immunization (AEFI) especially fever, bodyache is negligible in Covaxin. Hence, doctors are advising it for persons with comorbidities or those who underwent surgeries. Also, efficacy of Covaxin is more than Covishield’s. Another advantage is that second dose of Covaxin can be taken after 28 days whereas after it is 84 days for Covishield.
Since beginning of Covid-19 vaccination programme on January 16, doses of Covaxin are available in limited centres in the city resulting in very few beneficiaries of Covaxin. As per the NMC’s data, 5,01,715 people have taken first dose in city of which 4,66,655 (93%) have taken Covishield and only 35,060 (7%) took Covaxin.
The civic body also started vaccination of homeless and destitute who do not have age, address or identity proof from Friday.
NMC chief medical officer Dr Sanjay Chilkar said, “Couple of homes taking care of such persons requested us for vaccination of all inmates. We submitted a proposal with the government seeking permission which was received a couple of days ago. Accordingly, we inoculated 88 women at Shanti Bhavan on Friday. Vaccination of 78 men inmates will be done on Saturday. We will also be able to complete vaccination of all inmates at Mental Hospital. Earlier, we had done inoculation of inmates who had Aadhaar or identity proof. We will now be able to vaccinate destitute residing in other homes too.”
NMC on Friday continued vaccination of students who have confirmed admission in foreign universities. 154 students were inoculated on Friday. 112 had taken the jab on Thursday.
Kingsway Hospital vaccinated over 2,000 on Friday. The number was 3,675 a day ago. Total 7,630 including 7,493 from 18-44 years age group took the jab in the last five days here.
NMC additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi said housing societies had begun approaching for organizing special camps of vaccination for 45-plus. “RBI Colony and association of staffers of an insurance company have requested for special camp in their areas. We have given them a format and asked to fill it. We will send teams and vaccinate all. Only condition is that number of beneficiaries should be over 50,” he said.