Covaxin stock to be used for second dose in Assam

GUWAHATI: Amid shortage, Assam on Friday suspended administering the first dose of Covaxin, one of the two Covid-19 vaccines being administered in the state, so that 1.50 lakh people who are due to get the second dose of the vaccine can be given their shot within the stipulated time.
State health minister Keshab Mahanta on Friday said the remaining stock of Covaxin will be utilized only for the second dose as it has to be administered within 42 days. Many people across the state have not been able to get their second dose of Covaxin.
“For the time being, we are suspending the Covaxin first dose. There is a shortage of supply. The state currently has 20,000 Covaxin doses, including 15,000, which were received today, and about 50,000 doses are expected to reach the state within a week. Our priority is to ensure that those who have already been administered the first dose are vaccinated with the second,” Mahanta, addressing a press conference here, said
He added if the supply increases later, they will start administering the first dose. “Those who are due to get the second dose should not panic as the gap between the two doses has been increased from 28 to 42 days and they will be administered the vaccine within the stipulated period,” the minister added.
The state has about 3 lakh doses of Covishield and the vaccination for this will continue as per schedule, he said. The minister also said that Assam has decided to give interest-free loans for three months to private hospitals who are interested in buying vaccines from the Centre.
“The Centre has decided to give 25% vaccines to private hospitals and we want this also to come to the state and as the government cannot buy it, we have decided to give interest-free loans to private hospitals. It is an attempt to bring in more vaccines to the state,” Mahanta said.
He said that currently on an average, 50,000 people are being vaccinated daily but it will be increased to 70,000. The vaccination process will be further intensified in six districts where positive cases and death rates are relatively high and these include Kamrup Metro, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Cachar, Nagaon and Sonitpur.
The minister further said that the vaccination process has been simplified for tea garden workers, vagrants, ascetics and others who do not have identity cards.
The minister said there are plans to vaccinate the elderly, disabled and others suffering from certain ailments at their homes or places closer to their homes. A total of 42,33,385 doses of vaccines have been administered in the state so far and this includes 33,90,477 first doses and 8,42,908 second doses.