Shortage hits inoculation drive, many await 2nd dose
3 million people in the 60-plus age category wait for their second dose
Shortage of Covid-19 vaccine has slowed down the inoculation drive in Rajasthan, even as hundred thousands of people in the 60-plus age category wait for their second dose completing six weeks after taking the first dose of the vaccine.
According to the state health department data, more than 5.2 million people in the 60 plus age group have been vaccinated in the state, of which 29% (1.5 million) have received the second dose. Others are awaiting the second dose. “I have approached the nearby centre five times for the vaccination (second dose). They either say there is no vaccine or the session is over,” said V Srinivas, a senior citizen from Jaipur.
People in the 45-59 age group face similar situation. More than 4.7 million people in the age group have been given the first dose, but only 12% (566,000 people) have received the second dose, though a majority of them still have to complete the six-week time after the first dose.
As the state has also started vaccination for the 18 plus age group people, the session sites for 45-plus people have been reduced looking into the manpower and resources.
Elaborating on the vaccine situation, a senior health department official on the condition of anonymity said, “Around 3 million people in 60-plus age category are to be given the second dose, but there is a shortage of vaccine in the state. We have written to the centre for increasing the vaccine supply. Currently, the centre is providing 1.7 million vaccines for a fortnight, which is inadequate. As on Tuesday morning, the state had only 300,000 vaccines for 45-plus age category, which would be over by afternoon if we run on full capacity.”
The official added that a centre government official has conveyed that the vaccine allocation will be increased by June end.
Experts says the second dose of the vaccine should be taken in the given time frame for its better effect.
During a meeting on Monday, chief minister Ashok Gehlot had said, “We were leading in vaccination with 581,000 vaccines per day, but now there is no vaccine today; the supply isn’t there from GOI (Government of India). The vaccine couldn’t be manufactured as per the demand in the country. Now, 18-plus (age category) vaccination is also open, which has come on the state, we wanted that it should also be dealt by the GOI like 60-plus (age category).”
State health secretary Siddharth Mahajan said that the second dose of vaccination is due for “a large number of people” in Rajasthan. “The state was leading in vaccination and now a majority of people are completing their six weeks for the second dose. We are requesting GOI to provide vaccines as soon as possible,” he said.