Cluster plan suspended due to vax shortage

Prayagraj: The shortage of vaccines has suspended the cluster plan in Sangam city which was to begin on July 1. Officials of the health department, however, maintained that vaccination exercise will be taken up at all city-based 14 vaccination sites and 20 Community Health Centers (CHCs) in rural areas on Thursday and the date for the launching of the cluster plan would be announced as per the availability of vaccines.
Pointedly, there was no vaccination at any site – rural and urban – in the city on Wednesday and recipients had to return without getting vaccinated in the city, trans-Ganga and trans-Yamuna pockets of the district due to the unavailability of vaccines.
District Immunization Officer (DIO) and Additional chief medical officer (ACMO), Dr Teerath Lal told TOI that due to the unavailability of vaccines, the vaccination work was not held at any site on Wednesday.
He, however, said that over 8,000 vaccine vials are supposed to arrive Prayagraj from Lucknow on Wednesday night and that the vaccination work would be taken up on Thursday at CHCs and city-based government hospitals.
Dr Lal, meanwhile, said that the cluster plan would be launched in the district once there would be adequate stock and availability of vaccines.
The officials of the district health department claimed to have chalked a cluster plan meant to cover more and more recipients in rural and urban areas. The cluster plan was to be launched from July 1 but the shortage of vaccines has suspended the mega event.
On Wednesday, recipients who arrived at rural and semi urban-based vaccination centres returned empty-handed due to the non-availability of vaccines. Recipients approached the health staff concerned in city and dehat (rural) areas to inquire about the vaccination dates and were asked to return on Thursday.
A senior health official, however, said, "Cluster plan will be launched in the city on or after July 5 in 80 wards of the city as per the availability of vaccines”. He further added that the vaccination under the cluster plan will be held on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday while there would be routine immunization on Wednesday and Saturday.
The official also informed that all the 80 wards of the city have been divided into 16 clusters and as many as 10 teams would cover at least five wards in a day. The cluster plan for rural areas would be finalised shortly.
As many as 8,44,249 Covid vaccine shots were administered to the recipients of all age groups, that is, those aged above 18 years, till June 30. While 7,03,921 beneficiaries have taken the first dose, 1,40,328 recipients have also received the second dose.
Officials have set a target of administering around 39.87 lakh beneficiaries, including 27 lakh recipients aged between 18 and 44 and 12.87 lakh beneficiaries aged over 45.