Dist gets 77k Covishield doses, to last 1-2 days only

Nagpur: After remaining affected for two consecutive days due to shortage of vaccine, Covid inoculation will resume in free-of-cost Covishield centres of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Wednesday. However, it is likely to be hit again from the second half on Thursday as the district has received limited number of doses even though it is slightly higher than earlier days.
Inoculation could not happen at 138 centres administering Covishield on Tuesday. Only two Covishield centres of NMC were operational — one for Indian Air Force staff and another for inmates of Central Jail. Three centres of Covaxin — GMCH, Mahal Diagnostic Centre and Dr Ambedkar Hospital — continued administering doses.
Vaccination has not taken place on nine out of the last 14 days since resumption of inoculation of 18-44 age group on June 23.
As per the data of state’s public health department (PHD), the district got 77,600 doses of Covishield on Tuesday, of which NMC received 46,000 and 31,600 went to zilla parishad.
NMC additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi said, “Doses are sufficient for only one day. There was also no vaccination for four consecutive days between June 29 and July 2. We would continue inoculation on Thursday if doses are left on Wednesday. We need big numbers and then continuous supply.”
The demand of vaccination has increased manifold since resumption of vaccination of 18-44 years age group.
Guardian minister Nitin Raut had wanted 3.5 lakh doses to be handed over on any particular day to be followed by 3.5 lakh over a week to keep a running stoc. He also claimed district can consume 3.5 lakh doses in a day. He blamed Centre for not supplying required quantity of doses to Maharashtra.
The district had received 40,600 doses on June 24, 24,000 on June 26 and 45,100 on July 2. Compared to previous allocation, the district has received some more quantity on Tuesday. The district has received 1,87,300 doses in the last 14 days.
On Tuesday, Pune district received 95,000 doses which was less than its earlier allocation. Between June 24 and July 2, Pune district has received 3,73,280, making it 4,68,280 doses in the last 14 days.
As per PHD, estimated population of Nagpur district is 52.72 lakh and 1.17 crore of Pune district. The population of Pune district is double compared to Nagpur district and hence the allocation is more.
The PHD claimed that doses were being distributed as per vaccination performance in the last three days. Interestingly, Nagpur never got doses as per this criteria in the past. Going by the PHD’s claim, Tuesday’s allocation was against the criteria. The daily average performance in the last three sessions in the district was 41,532, including inoculation in private hospitals.
Earlier too, TOI had highlighted discrimination in distribution of doses. Following TOI reports, Raut had raised the issue with the PHD. Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B also raised the issue with officials at the state-level. “The district may have received more doses on Tuesday because of complaints by Raut and Radhakrishnan,” said an official.
On Tuesday, Spandan Hospital started administering Russian vaccine Sputnik V. Care Hospital was the first to start it. Orange City Hospital and Research Institute resumed corporate vaccination on Tuesday. There are 12 private centrs in city now. A total of 2,874 people took the jab at these centres on Tuesday.