Vaccine shortage hits drive in Mohali district
Gaurav Kanthwal
Tribune News Service
Zirakpur, May 16
With only 1,111 vaccinations across all categories in the district, the fight against the virus moved at a snail’s pace on Sunday.
Health officials said the stock was running out, leading to the inconvenience to the beneficiaries, besides fuelling the growing impatience among them.
On an average, 4,500-5,000 doses are administered in the district daily, but on Sunday, it had to be cut to almost one-fourth. Not a single shot of Covaxin was administered in the district.
The gates of the Sports Complex in Sector 78 for the drive-through vaccination remained closed for most part of the day.
“In Zirakpur, only 161 persons in the age group of 18 plus with comorbidities were vaccinated today,” said Zirakpur SMO Pommy Chhatrath.
No other person in any age group could be vaccinated due to the scarcity of the vaccine. It is the third consecutive day when the pace of vaccination has reduced in the area. Vaccination in Dera Bassi too was affected for three days before it continued on Saturday.
Sources said the vaccine shortage was likely to continue till May 20 following which there would be enough doses.
“Even if the vaccine is available, a team of five members can at the most vaccinate around 200-220 persons from 9 am to 5 pm at one place,” said an official.
Meanwhile, the health authorities said eight teams had been formed for comprehensive rapid antigen tests till the time vaccine was available. The teams would visit various housing societies in the Zirakpur area.
