Vaccination drive stutters in city as vials in short supply

Covaxin Used Only For Administering Second Dose

Komal Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.05.2021

The Greater Chennai Corporation that was vaccinating more than 25,000 people on an average daily has, for the last four days, been vaccinating only around 9,000 a day. All those seeking covaxin are sent back and with Covishield doses also in short supply, vaccination numbers dipped sharply.

“We had placed orders with two vendors, 7.65 lakh vials from one and 2.65 lakh vials from another. We will start receiving the order from today (Thursday). Apart from that we are working on placing more orders,” said J Radhakrishnan, state health secretary.

However, districts such as Madurai have been continuing the same number of vaccinations despite the shortage. “Only Covaxin is in short supply. We are administering only Covishield so we don’t have much issue,” said an official from Madurai.

In Coimbatore and Chennai, however, with both being administered in corporation hospitals and UPHCs, people are being turned away.

“We are prioritizing only the second dose of Covaxin and are not administering it as first dose to anyone. Covishield supply remains the same,” said a senior health official in Chennai corporation.

Roopa R, a resident of Saidapet, said she isn't able to get Covaxin anywhere even in private hospitals. “We preferred Covaxin over Covishield though experts have said both vaccines have the same results. But because of the lack of availability, we have delayed the vaccination now,” she said.

Many like Satish G of Sholinganallur are waiting for the second dose. His was due on May 4, but he is still waiting for the corporation to give him a call. “They have said a delay of a week won’t make any difference but I am not too sure and am trying private hospitals,” he said.

Health experts said that with vaccination the only option, the government should work on getting vaccines from open market and place big orders.

“A day of lockdown will cost them more than paying for the vaccinations. They can use the money to vaccinate people at a faster pace to avoid a crisis like in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi,” said a senior epidemiologist in the city.