Confusion over vaccine supply to private hosps

MUMBAI: Even as the inoculation of those between the 18-44 age group is slated to start from today, there is still a lack of clarity on the supply of vaccination to private hospitals. Private hospitals said that this could reduce the pace of the drive.

State health minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said that if the Centre directs the state to not sell vaccines to private hospitals for the inoculation of citizens over age 45, the state will follow it, as the vaccination drive is a national programme.

“The vaccination for above age 45 is a national programme which runs as per the rules of the Centre. Today, we are vaccinating people across 4,200 centres, which including both private and government-run hospitals. If they [Centre] say that it (vaccination) should not be done in private hospitals, we will follow it,” Tope told reporters on Friday. Till April 29, Maharashtra had inoculated 10,964,761 people over age 45. Of these, 1,404,673 or only 12.81% had taken their second shot.

Reeling under shortage of vaccines, the drive in Mumbai has already been suspended till May 2. Some private hospital in Mumbai said that there is no clarity over how the drive will proceed after Sunday.

Dr S Narayani, zonal head of Fortis Hospital, Mumbai said, “We have no clarity on the drive. We have been hearing about it (purchase from open market). We are awaiting clarification on it. As of now, we do not have any stock left.”

A representative of another private hospital in Mumbai, also raised concern over clarity. “We have not heard anything formally from the government or the local administration on what happens after May 1,” he said. Another doctor involved in the vaccination management at a private hospital in Mumbai said, “The limited quantity of stock will delay the completion of vaccination for all. The herd immunity will not develop in the population at a stage where there is talk of a third wave.”

As per the Centre’s orders, the two manufacturers—Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech—have been told to give 50% of their monthly production to the Government of India (GoI). “The remaining 50% includes state governments, private hospitals, industrial private hospitals. There is a big question mark that if there is a huge demand with the two companies, then who will they give priority to?,” Tope said.