Odisha: Bargarh locals rush to get jabbed, triggers virus fear

SAMBALPUR: Throwing caution to the win, a huge crowd gathered at vaccination centres in Bargarh district on Friday where inoculation was being held after a week. Hundreds of people were seen outside eight vaccination sites, putting social distancing norm to the back-burner amid a worsening pandemic situation. The centres were giving the second dose.
An official said the district has received 2,900 doses of vaccine and they would be able to carry out inoculation for just two days.Additional district medical officer (ADMO), family welfare department, D N Padhi admitted people had gathered outside vaccination centres and that they were not following social distancing norm.
“The staff kept asking the people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and maintain social distancing, but no one paid heed. We had to inform the police to carry out crowd management outside two vaccination centres in Baragrh town,” Padhi said.
“Vaccination was carried out at eight centres, including six in the six blocks of the district. While 100 people are being vaccinated in each site, as many as 200 are getting inoculated at each centre in Bargarh district headquarters town,” he added.
A doctor said people are aware there is a shortage of vaccines and hence they have been rushing to the centres, resulting in a rush and a threat of catching the virus themselves. Such gatherings at vaccination centres might pose trouble for them, the doctor said.
Official sources said 53 vaccination centres had been opened in Bargarh district. However, in the absence of sufficient stock, the authorities decided to make only 15 centres operational, which was further pruned to eight on Friday.