BHUBANESWAR: Uncertainty over Phase III roll out of Covid vaccination shrouds as Odisha government is yet to be communicated about the schedule of vaccine dispatches by the manufacturers.
The Health and Family Welfare department has placed orders for 3.77 crore doses of Covishield and 10.34 lakh doses of Covaxin for its 1.93 crore beneficiaries, aged 18 to 44 years.
Initially, Odisha government has sought five lakh doses of Covaxin in May and rest 5.34 lakh by June 15 for which purchase order by the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) has already been placed before Bharat Biotech.
Similarly, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has been intimated about the month-wise requirement of Covishield as sought by the manufacturer. The Health department has asked for 40 lakh doses in May and 60 lakh doses each in June, July and August.
Additional Chief Secretary of Health department PK Mohapatra said while the State expects at least one lakh doses from Bharat Biotech in the next few days, no assurance has been received from SII. “Inoculation will remain suspended on May 1 and 2 for weekly shutdown. We will roll out the vaccination for 18 years plus at Bhubaneswar on May 3 if the expected doses are received by then,” he added. Since the stock of SII and Bharat Biotech till May 15 has been booked by the Centre for vaccination of people of 45 years and above, it is unlikely that the states would get vaccines before mid May.
Meanwhile, the State government faced acute shortage of Covishield for the vaccination of people aged above 45 years. It has around 1.1 lakh doses of vaccine in stock against the requirement of 6.3 lakh doses for second dose vaccination.
Only 27,602 people were administered vaccines at only 288 sites of the targeted 1,500 on Thursday due to non availability of the required doses. The vaccination drive could not be conducted in 12 districts - Balasore, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Khurda (excluding Bhubaneswar).
Director of Family Welfare Dr Bijay Panigrahi said vaccination also came to a halt in worst affected districts. “We are unable to conduct second dose vaccination due to the shortage of vaccine. We need at least seven lakh doses of Covishield in next three days,” he added. So far, 57.76 lakh doses of vaccines have been administered in the State.
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Drive was stopped on the day at 12 districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Boudh, Cuttack and Khurda (excluding Bhubaneswar)
Only 27,602 people were administered vaccines at only 288 sites of the targeted 1,500 on Thursday