Telangana Govt restocks Covid-19 vaccine, but beneficiaries a no-show

Hyderabad: Despite a recent resurgence in the number of Covid-19 cases, there are hardly any takers for the booster dose even a week after the state government stocked primary health centres (PHCs) and urban PHCs with doses of Corbevax which is manufactured by the city-based Biological E. That state does not have Covishield or Covaxin with it.

Vaccination counters and testing centres across the state wore a deserted look, with health officials saying there has been a dip in the number of tests, positive cases and vaccinations.

Dr Nagender Babu, special public health officer, Nampally, said, “We have sufficient vaccine stock since April 19. However, we have not seen any beneficiary in the Chintal Basti UPHC. Once we have sufficient numbers, we will open the vials.” He said that testing went down and the number of positive cases reported was also comparatively fewer than in March.

“In March, we had 13 positive cases but this month, only three positive cases have been reported from till date. In April, 99 Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and 77 RT-PCR tests were conducted till date. We had only three positive cases so far. Even the number of people coming for tests has gone down to two to three people per day. All cases have mild symptoms and are recovering in four to five days. No fatality has been reported so far,” said Dr Babu.

Officials at UPHCs said they are appealing to people to take booster shots to improve their immunity, due to a long time lapse since the second dose of the vaccines was administered.

A medical officer, requesting anonymity, said: “We advise pregnant women, elderly people and people with co-morbid conditions to take the booster shot as new variants are coming up.”

Officials at the Musheerabad, Tilaknagar, Khairatabad and Afzalsagar UPHCs also gave a similar account.

A second medical officer at a UPHC said, “Awareness has to be created for booster shots as it is the need of the hour. We have been instructed to create online Corbevax sessions where we are registering the phone numbers of beneficiaries. Once we have 15-18 beneficiaries, vials can be opened. However, as of now, no beneficiary has turned up for the booster shot of late.”

On Monday, the state recorded 54 positive cases, with the 23 in Hyderabad, followed by three each in Adilabad, Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Khammam and Ranga Reddy, two each in Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, Peddapalli, Rajanna Siricilla districts, and one each in Kamareddy, Mahbubabad, Mancherial, Medak, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Nizamabad, Sanagreddy, Suryapet and Yadadri Bhongir. The state had recorded 51 cases on Sunday.