Maha Vikas Aghadi Government and BJP led government at the Centre are at the loggerhead, oversupply of COVID19 vaccine to the state. The state is facing a shortage of vaccine doses, Nagpur being one of the cities among them
On Thursday Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, finished with its Covaxin stock in the morning. Many of those who had come to the hospital had to return without getting the jab – first or second. GMCH administers Covaxin prepared by Bharat Biotech. In most of other vaccination centres CoviShield is administered.
When contacted GMCH Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande confirmed that the hospital does not have the vaccines. He, however, stated that the fresh stock is likely to be made available on Friday. Some of the visitors at GMCH could get the vaccine doses in the morning. Later others had to return without getting the dose.
Since last two days reports of various places facing shortage of vaccine or having very limited stock, are being projected. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has claimed that the supply from the Centre should be increased. Indirectly he alleged that the Centre is not providing adequate vaccine. Replying to the allegations Union Health Minister Dr Harsha Vardhan alleged that the Maharashtra Government has not been able to utilize the vaccine doses supplied to it. A wastage of about five lakh doses in Maharashtra has been reported.
Union Minister Prakash Jawadekar, while addressing media persons from Delhi, stated that 1,06,19,190 doses of COVID vaccine were supplied to Maharashtra, of which 90,53,523 have been utilized. The wastage of doses is about 6% (about 5 lakh doses). He also stated that 7,43,280 doses are in the pipeline and nearly 23 lakh doses are available.
Closure of vaccination centres in the state is being viewed as a threat to the lives of people. Pointing fingers at each other by the State and Centre is viewed by the people as politics in bad taste. Meanwhile, the Centre has sent teams to the state to monitor the vaccination programme.
