Telangana’s vaccine stocks to last till June 20

HYDERABAD: The Covid-19 vaccination drive in the state may get yet another break as health officials have stock for just four days.
Also, there is no clarity on how many doses the state will get for the free vaccine drive announced by the Centre for people aged 18 years and above from June 21.

At present, the vaccine drive for high-risk groups and self-help groups would continue till Thursday. The vaccine stock currently available with the state government would be enough till June 20. The Centre had promised to deliver free vaccine doses for people aged 18 years and above from June 21. “We don’t have any information on how many vaccine doses the state will get from the Centre. Till then, we may have to stall temporarily giving first dose,” a top source said.
The state is expecting vaccine stocks in the last week of June or July first week. “About 12 lakh doses have to be delivered to the state. After calculating how many compulsory secondary doses are needed, we will take a decision,” health department sources said. “We will, however, continue giving second doses,” they added.
The Centre had issued guidelines that state governments should facilitate private hospitals to purchase vaccine stocks, as their share would be 25% of the total vaccines. “We have doses to last for a few days. After that, there are no guidelines from the state government on how to go about placing orders. We are waiting for it,” a private hospital’s procurement manager told TOI. Private hospitals too were finding it difficult to place orders owing to the new guidelines.
The vaccine drive in specific groups and people aged 45 and above went on swiftly, but for the 18-44 age-group it was progressing at a slow pace. Till Tuesday, 19,73,042 people were given doses and only 2,108 had taken the second dose.
Meanwhile, Union minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said there was need to panic on Covid-19 vaccine stock. “Production will be enhanced in the country. Efforts are on to complete the vaccine drive for all in the country by December-end,” he said. By then, many vaccines would be available in the market, he added.