Vaccine coverage in June brings relief after last month’s poor show

PUNE: The supply of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines improved significantly in Pune district in June.
The region has been sent more than 6.7 lakh doses of both the lead vaccines this month,Health department officials said a batch of more doses is now expected on Wednesday. The resupply could take total doses received to more than seven lakh. The number does not include vaccines supplied to the region’s private hospitals, which have been keeping up their daily vaccination drives.
Sanjay Deshmukh, assistant director (medical), Pune Circle, said the improved supply has also boosted vaccine coverage in June, which has seen the highest number of beneficiaries covered since April, when the district had vaccinated more than 14 lakh beneficiaries. In May, just over 5 lakh were given their jabs.
“At the time, supply was coming only from the Centre. Now, private hospitals too are buying vaccines and that has improved coverage across the district, especially in the Pune Metropolitan Region,” Deshmukh said.
He said that the final vaccine resupply for June is likely to arrive on Wednesday, which could take the total number of vaccine doses received to seven lakh. But he added that Covaxin supply continues to remain limited.
“We are a little short on Covaxin so shots have been reserved only for those who are due for a second dose. Both doses of Covishield continue to be administered due to its availability. Also, even if Covishield is unavailable at government-run sites, beneficiaries have the option to get it from private hospitals,” Deshmukh said.
As of June 28, the district has vaccinated 39.48 lakh citizens — 30.89 lakh have received their first dose while 8.59 lakh citizens have received their second dose.
On Tuesday, records showed that 60,418 beneficiaries were vaccinated against Covid-19 in the district.