SRINAGAR: At least 80 Covid vaccination centres in Srinagar district and 20 in Jammu could not conduct the vaccination drive today as their stocks have run dry while the Government has been waiting eagerly for the fresh batch of stocks for which they have already placed orders, Jammu based newspaper Daily Excelsior reported.
Excelsior quoting official sources told that for last few days, many Government-designated COVID vaccination centres across J&K could not continue the vaccination drive as whatever supply of vaccines they had received from the Government, has been used and now their stocks are empty. Among all 20 districts of the UT, Srinagar district has been badly affected due to shortage of vaccines as in over 80 centres the vaccination drive could not take place today while in Jammu district, over 20 centres could not offer vaccination services.
Sources told the newspaper in Srinagar district, the COVID vaccination could not be done in JLNM Hospital, NTPHC Rainwari, PHC Brain, Nehru Park SC, CHC Khanyar, PHC Zadibal, UPHC Lal Bazar, UPHC Zakura, NTPHC Faquir Gujree, SDH Hazratbal, UPHC SR Gunj, UPHC Palpora, NTPHC Bakshipora, PHC Nowgam, UPHC Lasjan, UPHC Mehjoor Nagar, UPHC, Batamaloo, PHC Laloo, UPHC Pantha Chowk, PHC Chanpora, UPHC Humhama, UPHC Mujgund, PHC Bemina, UPHC Qamarwari, Trauma Hospital Lawapora, Station Medicentre Air Force, UPHC Khanpora, SKIMS JVC, UPHC Kushalsar, MMC Noorbagh, SMHS Hospital, Khyber Hospital, Zewan Police Line, SMHS 2, SDH Hazratbal FLW 2, SKIMS 2, Comp FLW 1, Dignibal 13 Battalion and ITBP Kanmoh.
Other vaccination centres where vaccination could not take place in Srinagar include Composite FLW, STC Humhama, UPHC Nishat, PHC Burzhama, UPHC Shalimar, PHC Chatterhama, UPHC Harwan, PHC Tailbal, NTPHC Jawahar Nagar, Khankahi Mohalla, Kanimazar, Nowhata, Barbarshah, Bachi Darwaza, Gagribal, SC Gogoo, SC Syedpora, HWC Peerbagh, SKIMS Soura State Cancer Institute, Niskeen Bagh B, Middle School SK Colony Qamarw, Radiant Public School Bemina, GBMS Shanpora, BHS Rangteng, Muslim Boys & Girls Hostel, GG School Saida Kadal, Tibetian Public School, GMS Nandpora, GHS Gagribal and GBMS Zakura.
Meanwhile, most of the private vaccination centres in the UT have suspended the vaccination drive since May 1 after the Government refused to provide them vaccines and asked them to procure the same directly from the manufacturers.
When th enewspaper contacted, Director Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, Dr Salim-ur-Rehman admitted that there is shortage of vaccines. He said they are getting limited supply of vaccines due to which vaccination could not take place in some centres. “Yesterday, we got 50,000 vaccines. Today also, we received 50,000 vaccines each for Jammu as well Kashmir but as there are thousands of vaccination centres across the UT, we have to distribute the vaccines among some selected centres. If we distribute the vaccines equally among all the centres, none will get more than 20-30 vaccines,” he added.
He said they have placed orders for more vaccines but due to high demand and low production, the manufactures are not in a position to provide them vaccines in bulk.
Regarding closure of private vaccination centres, Dr Rehman said that nobody has asked them to close centres or stop vaccination. “Government has just asked them to procure the vaccines directly from the manufacturers. Just as States are contacting the manufacturing companies, the private centres can also do and get the same,” he added.
With regard to opening of more vaccination centres for 18-45 age group people, he said as soon as they get the 2nd consignment of vaccines, they will open more centres but as of now they are not in a position to open more centres. “Once we get more vaccines, the more centres will be in place and no one will face any problem in getting appointment for vaccination,” he maintained.
