THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has no stock of vaccines to provide the jabs from Tuesday. The existing stock has been exhausted on Monday, and only a few districts have very few stocks. There will be no vaccination from Tuesday at least in seven districts.
Health minister Veena George said, “The state has zero vaccine stock. Districts like
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam, there is no stock of vaccines for Tuesday. Only Covaxin is left with few districts.”
Earlier, while speaking in the assembly, the minister said the Centre has promised the state 30 lakh vaccines for August, but it is not enough.
The state needs at least 60 lakh vaccines in August. If they are providing 30 lakh doses, from that, we can provide only eight lakh for the first dose vaccination since the remaining will have to be given to people waiting for the second dose.
LOOSE GUARD: Though people are wearing masks, they are not adhering to social distancing in the state. A scene from Over Bridge Junction in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday
At present, only 21% of the people in the age group of 18 to 45 years have received the first dose, and only 2.64 lakh among this have received the second dose. Similarly, 76% of people above the age group of 45 years have received the first dose, and 39% received the second dose.
It is estimated that over 1.48 crore persons above the age of 18 years are still waiting for the first dose. Similarly, 27 lakh people above the age of 45 are yet to receive the first dose. About 79 lakh people in this age group got their first jab, are now waiting for the second dose. There are a total of 1.13 crore people in this age group.
The next consignment of vaccines for the state is expected on Thursday as per the decision from the Centre. Hence it is reported that the vaccination in the state will not take place for the next three days.
“The state is using maximum doses as soon as the consignment is received. Hence if we get six lakh vaccines, it will finish in two days. The state has recorded 4.5 lakh vaccination in a day,” said the minister.
Meanwhile, districts like Wayanad and Kasaragod have achieved cent per cent vaccination (first dose) for people above 45 years.
