Many private hospitals in Noida and Ghaziabad have started turning away the people citing vaccine shortage in the Covid Vaccination Centres.
According to the sources, Ghaziabad underwent a vaccination drive on Thursday with just 12,000 jabs with a target of 10,000 vaccinations. There are about 100 vaccination centres in Ghaziabad and out of which 36 are private ones.
City’s Chief Medical Officer NK Gupta said on Wednesday there were 12,000 doses for 5,848 people while on Thursday, only 6,152 doses were left. “Late on Wednesday, we received 6,500 doses from the Meerut regional centre. So for Thursday, we had 12,000 doses,” he said. “By Thursday evening or by Friday, we are hopeful that a fresh batch of vaccines will reach us,” added the chief medical officer.
Likewise, Noida too had only 13,000 doses of Covidshield after Tuesday’s vaccination drive. However, 5,500 doses were delivered in Noida on Wednesday.
Despite a set target of 10,000 vaccinations after those above age of 45 were made eligible, Noida has been vaccinating an average of between 8,0000 to 9,000 daily doses.
Although, both the district authorities of Noida and Ghaziabad ensured that a enough supply would be delivered in coming next two days.
On questions over the vaccine shortage, the senior health officials said it was because of huge rise in demand after the increase in vaccination net as it authorized all above 45 to get vaccination.
Amid the fear of second wave, more and more people are coming out to get vaccine shots. “The situation is changed now. Initially, people, even the frontline workers, were being requested to get the shots. Now, scores of people want to be vaccinated, including those who are not eligible,” an health official said. “This has led the demand to rise suddenly. However, the supply will also be ramped up soon,” he added.
There are already many complaints of vaccine shortage as people are unable to get vaccination. A vial of vaccine contains 10 doses so, it was ordered to open a vial only if there are 10 people in a line at a time to get vaccine.
“If at any centre, only two or three persons turn up for vaccination in the afternoon, they are asked to come the next day,” said another health officer.
