Vax shortage puts brakes on state inoculation drive

PATNA: The inoculation drive across the state remained suspended on Sunday because of the shortage of vaccines, for the third time in July. Several people had to return disappointed from the vaccination centres. In Patna, only three sites were open on Sunday. The district administration officials said vaccination will resume once they get the fresh stock.
Patna civil surgeon Dr Vibha Kumari Singh said the vaccination work was not held at any site on Sunday due to the unavailability of vaccines.The health department officials said the new stock was likely to reach Patna by evening. “If we get the stock, the drive will be resumed on Monday,” she said.
Darbhanga civil surgeon Dr Sanjiva Kumar Sinha said the stock had been utilised till July 10. “In Darbhanga, there are 300 session sites and all remained closed on Sunday owing to shortage of vaccine. We had received 34,000 vials about 3-4 days. The next stock is likely to reach the district soon,” he said.
Except one session site, all others in Jamui district remain closed, civil surgeon Dr Ajay Kumar Bharti said. he said less than 100 doses were left, which exhausted on Sunday. “More than 90% of our stock were used on the first day after we received the vaccine doses. People are now eager to take the jab,” he said.
He added: “Around 25% of the eligible beneficiaries in the district have taken the vaccines. The target is to vaccinate all the eligible population in Jhajha and Jamui city first.”
Munger civil surgeon Dr Harendra Kumar Alok was expecting some vaccine vilas by Sunday night. “The drive was suspended in the district due to unavailability of vaccine. We will resume the drive on Monday only if we get the doses. So far, 50% of the eligible population has received the doses in the district,” he said.
The inoculation drive remained suspended in Gaya, Madhubani, Siwan, Samastipur, Banka, Gopalganj, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Vaishali for the last two days owing to unavailability of vaccines.
As per the health department figures, 1,85,78,898 people in BIhar have received the vaccine jabs so far. Of them, 1,58,98,259 got the first dose whereas 26,80,639 received their second dose.