55,000 citizens waiting for second dose

Aurangabad, July 14:

In January 2021, the central government was giving up to 25,000 vaccine doses to the city. Now, while the demand for vaccines has increased tremendously, only 5,000 doses are being mobilized. Hence the waiting list for the second dose is increasing tremendously. On Wednesday, the number went up to 55,000.

In January, vaccinations were started for health workers, frontline workers, senior citizens above 60 years of age and citizens above 45 years of age with comorbidity. Initially, there was no response to vaccination. Thousands of doses were lying unused. Vaccination gained momentum after the introduction of the policy of vaccinating every citizen above the age of 18 years. In a short span of time, 5 lakh doses were given to the city. However, the supply of vaccines from the center is now dwindling. No more than 5,000 to 7,000 vaccines are available. Vaccines run out in just one to two hours. There is a lot of confusion at the vaccination centers. Police have to be called to the centers every day to control the situation. The municipal health department is also distressed due to lack of vaccines. At the immunization center at MIT on Tuesday, citizens insisted on giving a second dose (cocktail) of covishield after the covaxin stock ran out.

Industries insist AMC

Companies around the city have urged the corporation to vaccinate their employees. The corporation has so far not approved the application of any organization. The health department has raised the question of how to vaccinate company employees, as there is shortage of vaccines for the citizens.

Highest allocation for second dose

The government is providing less vaccines to the municipal corporation. Hence 90 per cent of doses will be allocated to those who take the second dose and 10 per cent will be allocated for the first dose, informed municipal health officer Dr Neeta Padalkar.

Vaccines received till date:

Covishield:

January – 20,000

February – 30,000

March – 43,800

April – 1,36,000

May – 83,850

June – 78,010

July – 28,100 (Till July 13)

Covaxin:

Till July 13 – 37,090

Both doses to private hospital- 39,573