Private hospital in Nagpur sets record, inoculates 11,155 with 1,042 vials

NAGPUR: Yet another private hospital of the city has set a record of usage of Covid-19 vaccine doses, by ensuring zero wastage and even utilizing the extra dose available in each vial of Covishield. Kingsway Hospital has inoculated 11,155 persons as against official 10,420 doses available in 1,042 vials of Covishield, over the last one week.
TOI had on February 4 reported the team of Alexis Hospital used all 11 doses available in each vial of Covishield as against official 10 doses.The hospital had utilized all doses in the vial and became a role model of ensuring zero wastage of doses. At that time, the hospital was given doses free by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for vaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) and frontline workers (FLW). Still, the hospital under the guidance of infectious diseases specialist Dr Nitin Shinde took the special initiative.
TOI had time and again highlighted wastage of doses at centres being operated by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and government hospitals.
Kingsway Hospital is among two private institutions in Vidarbha to start vaccination as per new guidelines of the government from May 31. The hospital had procured 12,000 doses of Covishield from Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) and started vaccination of people from 18-plus age group.
Director Amit Somani told TOI, “0.5ml vaccine is to be administered to each beneficiary. Each vial is of 5ml. Our staff observed extra quantum in all vials. Manufacturer probably provides this extra quantum in each vial as some quantum is bound to be wasted as air enters syringe while filling the vaccine. Our experienced staff prevented wastage of this quantum. Thus, we could utilize the extra dose. We administered vaccine to 11,155 persons using 1,042 vials between May 31 and June 7. Thus, we could vaccinate 735 more people. It is a big saving where there is shortage of doses.”
SII had supplied vaccine to the hospital at the rate of Rs630 per dose. The hospital is charging Rs1,000 for each dose and Rs100 for one-time registration. Thus, the hospital has also managed to increase its profit.
Kingsway Hospital also set another record in vaccination programme launched by the government since January 16. The hospital inoculated 3,675 persons in a day on June 3, which is highest so far at any centre in a day.
Other private hospitals in 11 districts of Vidarbha are yet to get doses from manufacturers despite raising a demand in first week of June.
Meanwhile, the central government on Tuesday announced supply of doses to private hospitals as was done a couple of months ago.
Convener of Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA) Dr Anup Marar said, “It is a good decision by the government. Vaccine manufacturers had been preferentially approving only bulk quantity vaccine requirements. This would have led to crowding in few select centres, violating Covid appropriate discipline. This would have also led to arbitrary charges. The government’s decision on equitable distribution and capping of charges will go a long way in increasing vaccination centres across various localities, which will help needy 18-plus get vaccine in subsidised cost. Vaccination of this age group at the earliest is key to control Covid. Having multiple scattered centres to ensure regional balance and sale of vaccines to government and private centres only through government portal will be of great help.”