Vaccination drive back on track in Kerala
TRIVANDRUM: With the authorities making it strict to register online for the jab, the vaccination centres in Kerala that witnessed heavy crowding have started functioning normally.
Several people had thronged these centres on Thursday leading to chaos and confusion amidst reports of a shortage in vaccine doses that triggered the panic reaction.
“I registered online on Thursday and I got a token for today,” said a man on the queue at a vaccination centre here.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who promised free jabs for all, has also called an all-party meeting Monday to discuss the pandemic situation and preventive measures.
Those who have already got inoculated have also started contributing to the chief minister’s relief fund to buy vaccines to meet the demand.
Last week, the federal government allowed vaccine makers to sell half of their doses in the open market and to the state ater supplying the rest for free distribution.
The COVID-19 cases are rising alarmingly in the state leading to a severe shortage of hospital beds and intensive care units in the state contrary to official claims.
On Thursday, Kerala reported 26,995 new cases, in the highest single-day surge so far, taking the total infection count to 1.32 million, 150,000 of them under treatment.
The official death toll also climbed to 5,028 with 28 new fatalities while the unofficial figure is much higher.
Addressing a press conference here, the chief minister said there are complaints about the rates charged by private hospitals for treatment.
Some are charging between Rs 2,300 to Rs 20,000 per day and the authorities http://172.16.0.228/newspress/ app/article_publishing/display_art_sec. php?server=np&fetch_type=article&a_ id=443414%3csep%3e622438&a_sec=image&a_ lan=en&img_id=622438&image_resize_ type=phpthumb&dynamic_creation=1&activate_ yellow_flag=&a7x=1&user_id=75&sf_id=622438 are looking into the complaints of exploiting the pandemic situation and overcharging. “We will ensure that the treatment rates are reasonable. A meeting with the private hospital will be held on Saturday,” he said.
He urged the people not to gather unnecessarily at the vaccination centres as only those who have registered online can take the jab at their alloted time slot.