No sessions planned at Nagpur government CVCs for couple of weeks

NAGPUR: Citizens planning Covid vaccination through online booking from the comfort of their homes are an aggrieved lot as no slot is available on the Co-Win portal for the last couple of days.
Slots are updated on the portal daily at 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm by private and government hospitals.
The continued shortage of doses has prompted government CVCs not to plan sessions in advance for a couple of weeks.
As on Monday afternoon, less than 100 slots were available at a couple of government Covid vaccination centres (CVCs) for Monday and Tuesday, that too at far off places like Jamtha or Kuhi.
By the time, citizens log in and search, only a few slots are left. This is forcing many to go the extra mile to get their jab.
Interestingly, two sessions of Sputnik V were made available for July 14, which too were taken in no time. After 4pm, some more slots became vacant in private hospitals but it appeared citizens were preferring government CVCs.
At some private centres, the available slots were for second dose.
As per the NMC, Covishield won’t be available for any age group on Tuesday. Officials said the civic body is unsure when the stock would be available next. However, Covaxin for 18+ group would be available at select government CVCs.
Some citizens feel the government CVCs must allow sessions in advance so that they can get a slot.
Prapti Banerjee, a resident of KT Nagar, questioned surplus vaccines with private centres when stock is running dry at government hospitals. “This shows how bad governance benefits private parties at the cost of citizens. The Covid crisis has put a lot of financial stress on people. Hike in prices of various things, from petrol to cooking oil and everything in between, has broken the financial backbone of average households,” said Banerjee.
Banerjee said private hospitals are benefiting due to ill planning at government hospitals. “Or may be it is being done intentionally,” said Banerjee.
Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA) convenor Dr Anup Marar said most citizens are facing issue of non-availability of vaccination slots and immediate booking. “This may be due to lack of enough vaccines and vaccination centres,” he said.
“Union Government had released a SOP to ensure even small hospitals and clinics in remote areas can also commence vaccination. Unfortunately, there is no transparency in allocation of vaccines and selection criteria of centers therein,” he said.
Dr Marar said till now only select centres are working because of which slots are getting booked immediately leading to panic situation. “People want to get themselves fully vaccinated before the projected third wave. If the vaccination does not commence as specified in new GR, government’s aim to get majority of public vaccinated by December will remain on paper.”