Assam on the verge of facing COVID-19 vaccine shortage

* Only 2.5 lakh vaccines left, 18 lakh fresh stocks sought from Delhi

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam is on the verge of facing acute shortage of COVID-19 vaccines due to sudden rush of people for vaccination.

A senior official of the Health & Family Welfare department told The Sentinel on Saturday that the State has now a stock of only 2.5 lakh doses COVID vaccines. He said the present stock would be exhausted by Monday.

"With the rise of COVID-19 positive cases in the State there has been sudden rush of people to get themselves vaccinated in different districts. The COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs) across the State capable of vaccinating 120 people daily are now receiving around 300 people. Besides the rush of people to receive the first doses of vaccines we have to deal with the beneficiaries for whom the second doses of vaccines are due. Under such circumstances we have rationalized distribution of vaccines in different CVCs in the State," the official said.

The Joint Director of Health Services of Dibrugarh has already written to the private hospitals of the district to stop inoculating the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. The private hospitals have been asked to continue inoculating the second dose of COVID vaccines.

On April 7, 2021 the State Health & Family Welfare department had written to the Centre seeking 18 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest. On Saturday (April 10) the department has sent a reminder to the Centre explaining urgency of receiving 18 lakh doses of vaccines.

A total of 12,14,820 beneficiaries have so far received the first dose while 2,38,490 beneficiaries have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccination drive started in Assam along with rest of the country on January 16, 2021.

"In case we do not receive the fresh stock of 18 lakh doses of vaccines by Monday (April 12) we will face a crisis to continue the ongoing vaccination drive," the Health department official said.

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