Beeline at Covid vaccination centre in Telangana's Nizamabad district following rumour over ration supply

HYDERABAD: Scores of people have been flocking to a distant Covid-19 vaccination centre in Nizamabad district’s Navipet mandal over the past few days. Reason: A rumour in the area that ration would be reduced for individuals who have not received the vaccine. As a result, the centre — which normally sees around 100 to 150 visitors a day — is now seeing an unprecedented rush.
The primary health centre (PHC) can deliver around 200 vaccinations per day.On Monday, local authorities had to enlist assistance of police to maintain order at the centre as many started jostling for places to get vaccinated first.
“We have the capacity to inoculate everyone but there are health camps in the surrounding areas and treatment facilities for communicable diseases. So, we are limiting the number to 250,” said deputy medical and health officer, Dr Vidya. Authorities were concerned that the absence of social distancing could lead to infections. “They were concerned about rations but not about masks,” said one official.
A few days back, officials had to take extra doses of the vaccine from neighbouring centres to administer jabs. Most people turning up at the centre are said to be between ages of 40 and 50. “We don’t know what the rules say but we were told by neighbours that ration rice would not be handed to us, so we rushed to the centre,” a local said.
Despite assurances from officials that ration will not be decrease and that the collector would ensure ration is distributed to everyone, the rush at the centre continued. Officials are now hoping that as a result of this rush, vaccination in the mandal will be completed soon. Currently, vaccination is only 50 per cent complete.