COVID-19 vaccination will continue in Assam, assures Health department

SHORTAGE OF COVID-19 VAX

* Fresh stocks to reach State by April 16

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Health & Family Welfare department is confident of carrying out the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the State without any disruption despite shortage of vaccines.

"The State has a stock of 1.96 lakh Covid-19 vaccines on Sunday. Even though 40,000 to 50,000 are getting vaccinated daily, the rush is likely to be reduced during the RongaliBihu holidays (April 14 to 16, 2021). So, we are hopeful that the existing stock will be sufficient to carry out the vaccination drive till April 16," a Health & Family Welfare department official told The Sentinel on Sunday.

The official also said the Covid Vaccination Centres at government medical colleges & hospitals, other health centres and private hospitals have been asked to go for "judicious & rational" use of vaccines till the fresh stocks arrive in the State. The private hospitals have asked to stop inoculating the first dose of Covid-19 vaccines and continue inoculating the second dose of vaccines.

Principal Secretary of Health & Family Welfare department SamirKumar Sinha has already taken up the matter of vaccine shortage with National Health Mission Deputy Commissioner (immunisation) Dr PradeepHaldar and officials of the Union Health Ministry.

On April 10, the Director of Health Services (Family Welfare) MunindraNathNgatey also wrote a second letter to the Government of India informing about the shortage.

"The State is expecting to receive 8 lakh fresh stocks of Covid-19 vaccines by April 16. Once the fresh stocks are received there will be no shortage of vaccines," the official said.

A cumulative total of 12,35,767 beneficiaries had received the first dose while 2,49,619 beneficiaries have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine till April 10. The Covid-19 vaccination drive started in Assam along with rest of the country on January 16, 2021.

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