After goof-up, mystery of missing Covishield doses worries officials

The Siddharthnagar health authorities are trying to solve the mystery of 50 missing Covishield doses in the eastern UP district where 20 residents of Audahi Kala village in the 45plus age group were given Covaxin on May 14 as the second dose at the Barhni primary health centre by mistake after they were administered Covidshield for the first dose on April 1.

The health authorities have already taken action against health workers for the goof-up.

Chief medical officer (Siddharthnagar) Dr Sandeep Chaudhary has issued a recovery order of Rs 7,500 against the block vaccination in-charge Dr Shanti Singh on the basis of the two-member inquiry committee’s report. The inquiry committee found 50 doses (five vials) of Covishield missing from the cold chain, an official said.

Director general (health), UP, Dr DS Negi said the state health department had directed the CMO to submit a report on the missing vaccine doses.

The state government has already directed all the CMOs and vaccinators to check wastage of Covid vaccines, he said.

Dr Shanti Singh, in turn, blamed the Barhni health centre in-charge Dr SK Patel for the missing doses of Covishield.

“The vaccine was dispatched from the cold chain to the vaccination centre. After the conclusion of the vaccination session, it was the responsibility of Dr Patel to send the remaining doses back to the cold chain,” she said.

After the two-member committee’s report, CMO on May 27 transferred Dr SK Patel, suspended auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) Kamlawati and served a recovery notice on Dr Shanti Singh. The CMO said Dr Shanti Singh had not deposited the recovery amount, nor replied to the show cause notice.