BENGALURU: With only about 50% of the 2.15 crore vaccine doses supplied having been used so far, states are awaiting Centre’s instructions on inoculating senior citizens and those who are 50 years and above with comorbidities.
While some are concerned about stocks nearing expiry date, some are comfortable with the numbers, officials from multiple states that TOI spoke to indicated. They also said that there was no clarity about how beneficiaries of the third phase will enrol for vaccination. While self-registration was one option, the Centre has not said anything on the matter.
“We have been told that phase three will begin in March and I think we should have more clarity in the coming week. All vaccines we have received will expire in May, just as in other states, and we should be able to use them when the third phase kicks off,” Arundathi Chandrashekar, mission director-Karnataka, national health mission (NHM), said.
According to the Union health ministry, India has vaccinated more than 1 crore (1,01,88,007) people so far, which means about 47% of the 2.15 crore+ doses it supplied to states have been used.
In Karnataka, for example, 5.8 lakh doses of vaccines have been used so far, while the state has received 17.1 lakh doses of vaccines. While more than 50% of the targeted healthcare workers have been given the first dose, it’s only 36% for frontline workers. This means the number of people needing the second dose before May — when the vaccines at storage facilities will expire — will not be enough to exhaust the existing supply.
Tamil Nadu (TN), which has received 12.3 lakh doses of vaccines from the Centre has so far inoculated 3.2 lakh people, including the second dose given to a few thousands. Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan told TOI from Chennai, “I think it would be prudent to give vaccines to those who are eager. Even seniors and others with comorbidities come from the same pool as the healthcare workers, which means there will be hesitancy there too, so the earlier we start, the better the chances of using the vaccines.”
As of Thursday, Maharashtra had vaccinated 8.3 lakh people, while the number of doses it has received is more than 19 lakh. Similarly, Delhi has given the jab to more than 2.4 lakh people, including about 7,000 second doses, while the Centre has supplied more than 7.1 lakh doses.
Along with Delhi and Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Puducherry are among states with less than 50% coverage. While both Punjab health secretary and NHM director were unavailable for comments immediately, Puducherry health secretary T Arun said, “Given that we have received a letter to include poll workers as part of frontline workers for vaccination, we will be able to use the doses available with us.”
Punjab and Puducherry have received 4.3 lakh and 31,000 doses, respectively. One of the directors of NHM, which is spearheading the vaccination drive, said, “The situation is similar across many big states, which is why the Centre needs to take a decision soon.”
However, Odisha NHM director Shalini Pandit said, “We don’t have a problem of low turnout. In fact, we need more doses to cover the first two rounds and have written to the Centre about the same. We will be receiving more vaccines in the coming week.” So far, the state has received 9.1 lakh doses of vaccines.