NIZAMABAD/KAMAREDDY: Those who turned up in large numbers to get vaccinated against Covid-19 at government vaccination centres in Nizamabad, Armoor and Bodhan towns had to return home on Tuesday without taking a jab, thanks to the frequently changing guidelines for inoculation. Though there are sufficient stocks of vaccine available in government hospitals, people were disappointed as the changed norms prevented them from availing vaccines.
In Nizamabad district, Covishield has been supplied for vaccination for Covid-19. As many as 1,71,030 people were administered Covishield vaccination first dose. Only 12,580 persons got Covaxin in the district. In view of the resumed vaccination programme, people thronged the Government General Hospital and urban health centres in Nizamabad, district hospital in Bodhan and community health centre at Armoor.
In view of changed guidelines, Covishield second shot was given to people, who had completed 84 days of the first dose. On the same lines, Covaxin second dose is given to people, who completed 42 days of the first dose. The district medical and health officials provided only 200 vails each to Nizamabad, Armoor and Bodhan hospitals.
People in large numbers visited government vaccination centres to get their second dose, but in vain. Ramakrishna Reddy of Gangasthan rushed to Chandrasekhar Colony urban health centre on Tuesday to get a second shot of vaccine, but the staff denied him the vaccine. He realised that he was eligible for the second dose only after 84 days of the first dose due to the changed guidelines.
Speaking to this newspaper, district medical and health officer Bala Narendra said the second shot of Covid-19 vaccine was provided to eligible beneficiaries in the district. Based on online data of the first dose beneficiaries, the second shot was provided, he said. Gap between first and second doses increased to 84 days, he said. “We provided jabs as per availability of vaccines,” he added.
In Kamareddy district, around 1.80 lakh people received the Covid-19 vaccine so far. The officials set a target of 2.33 lakh vaccination and achieved 77.25 percent target. Covishield was provided on a large scale to the beneficiaries. State officials sent vaccine doses on Monday and Tuesday for Kamareddy district.
When contacted, Kamareddy district medical and health officer Chandrasekhar said sufficient vaccines were available in the district. People are eligible for the second shot after 84 days of Covishield and 28 days of Covaxin first dose, he explained. He said there was no shortage of vaccines in Kamareddy district.
