Covid instances are as soon as once more on the rise however public well being centres in Karnataka haven’t any vaccine shares to supply booster pictures to the weak because the Centre has declined the state’s request for contemporary doses.

The state of affairs isn’t any higher in non-public hospitals as they have stopped procuring doses citing potential losses attributable to low uptake. 

While the state noticed only one Covid dying in January, the quantity rose to 12 in March and averages one per day in April. When Covid instances surged in China final December, Karnataka performed vaccination drives till February. Since then, there have been no shares. 

“We requested the Centre for one lakh Corbevax doses in the third week of March based on demand at the time. But in a meeting on April 7, the health ministry informed us that it wouldn’t supply the doses,” T Okay Anil Kumar, Principal Secretary, Health Department, instructed DH. 

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What this implies is that Karnataka will now have to obtain the vaccines straight from producers. “We will decide on procurement next week based on costs, availability, etc,” Kumar added. 

Virologist Dr Jacob John emphasised {that a} booster shot is crucial for folks with continual lung or coronary heart illness, diabetes, hypertension, weight problems, these on immunosuppressants and the aged. “This is the priority group but others should also take it,” he stated. 

The nodal officer for vaccination on the state-run Victoria Hospital stated they often get enquiries, particularly from those that want a vaccine certificates to journey, however have to say no them. 

DH’s seek for vaccination centres on the CoWin portal on Saturday gave solely two outcomes — one in Bengaluru and one other in Koppal. The different 29 districts had no non-public vaccination centres. 

Most Bengaluru hospitals stated they’ve stopped procuring as demand is low. A supply at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre stated they suffered a lack of Rs 15 lakh after Covaxin doses expired final month. “The doses expired as solely round 10 folks took the vaccine each day. Now we get enquiries from 5-6 folks a day however we inform them it’s unavailable,” he provides. 

Fortis Hospital stated they get enquiries from round 20 folks per week however would not procure the vaccines. 

Apollo, among the many few hospitals that continued vaccination till lately, stated round 10 folks take the vaccine on weekdays and 25 on Saturdays. The hospital suffered losses as over 550 Covishield doses expired on April 7. However, it’s attempting to exchange this to cater to these in want, stated its vp Dr Yatheesh Govidaiah.