The immunisation campaign against Covid-19 came to a standstill in Ranchi on Monday as none of the government-run session sites opened their doors for beneficiaries owing to an acute shortage of vaccines, health officials said.
“All the government-run session sites were closed today (Monday). The next supply of vaccines is due on July 21, so the vaccination drive can regain pace only from July 22,” said Ranchi Civil Surgeon, Dr. Vinod Kumar.
According to the Co-Win portal, at least 10 session sites – six private and four government-run – were operational in Ranchi on Monday. However, local officials involved in the immunisation campaign begged to differ, claiming that all government session sites were closed. As many as 766 Ranchi residents were administered vaccine jabs against Covid-19 by 5.49 pm, the Co-Win dashboard highlighted.
Officials said that data displayed on the dashboard of Co-Win portal is often different from the actual situation in the district as vaccination figures are updated gradually from different parts of the state.
Locals struggled to book slots for vaccination on Monday and many beneficiaries resorted to paid vaccine jabs at private facilities due to unavailability of slots in government-run vaccination centres. Many residents opted for the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, available at two private healthcare facilities in the city.
Only Bero Community Health Centre and Chanho Community Health Centre were open for free vaccination on the day, and none of the two CHCs had slots available since Sunday evening, highlighted data on Co-Win.
None of the government-run session sites in urban areas of Ranchi were open for booking of slots since Sunday evening.
As per data shared by the National Health Mission (NHM) on Monday evening, the state had only 71,980 doses of vaccines in stock, enough to last a little more than a day. So far, the state has received 82,69,110 doses of Covishield and Covaxin from the Centre and administered 83,18,231 doses, including Sputnik V procured separately by private hospitals, to Jharkhand residents.
As per the schedule of vaccine supply, on Wednesday, at least 2,13,340 Covishield doses and 31,130 Covaxin doses will be delivered to Jharkhand.
The state will receive 2,30,430 Covishield doses and 35,570 Covaxin doses on July 24. At least 2,53,580 Covishield doses will be delivered to Jharkhand the next day and 4,51,970 Covishield doses will reach the state on July 29.
The state will also get 68,400 doses of Covaxin on the same day.