J’khand seeks fresh stock of Cov vaccine from Centre

Ranchi: The state government’s department of health, medical education and family welfare has demanded fresh stock of Covid-19 vaccine vials from the Centre to meet a possible surge in precautionary jabs across the state in coming weeks.
The formal request letter, sent to the Union government earlier this week, came after the health department officials anticipated an increase in the precautionary dose coverage in the state amid the looming scare of another wave of infections which may be caused by the BF.7 sub-variant. Notably, precautionary dose coverage among the eligible adults in Jharkhand remains poor. According to the latest data released by the department on Thursday night, only 16 lakh (including 3 lakh senior citizens) out of 2.1 crore eligible adults have taken their precautionary doses so far.
“Since Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory, a major chunk of the state’s eligible population remained reluctant towards precautionary doses as the Covid curve flattened in Jharkhand and across the country. Now, with the new sub-variant having been detected, a surge in vaccination coverage is being seen,” a senior official in the health department said.
“Between December 17 and December 21, as many as 5,234 people had taken their precautionary doses. That number soared to more than 15,000 between December 22 and December 27,” the official added.
Though the demand for precautionary doses is increasing, the department does not have adequate stocks. “There are no stocks of Covishield and Corbevax at present and the new nasal vaccine (iNCOVACC), which got approval only recently, is not expected to arrive before the first week of February,” another official told TOI on condition of anonymity.
The Ranchi district health officials also said the active session sites across the state capital and the rural areas are only administering Covaxin at present. There were 33 active session sites (vaccination centres) in and around Ranchi as on Thursday.
“We have urged the Centre to provide us with Covid-19 vaccines in ratio of the eligible population which is yet to take precautionary doses. Covishield and Corbevax doses are not available at present, but Covaxin stock that is available with us will last one month. Those who have taken jabs of Covishield and Corbevax can enquire with private hospitals for the time being. However, it is not advisable for them to take precautionary doses of Covaxin,” Dr Rakesh Dayal, nodal officer of the vaccine cell of the state health services, said.