* Private centres also closed, not getting vaccines
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, May 6: 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.
Official sources told Excelsior 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 said 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.
Similarly, in Jammu district, vaccination drive did not take place today in UPHC Sidhra, Baspur, HWC Sagoon, SC Queer, NTPHC Bharore, PHC Bhour Camp, UPHC Digiana, Gangyal, High Court Jammu, Unit Hospital 166 Battalion CRPF, Unit Hospital BSF 42 Battalion, Kandi Kathar, Khour, SC Malla, PHC Pallanwala, PHC Karah, NTPHC Pindi Charkan and few other vaccination centres.
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. On the conditions of anonymity, an official of Swami Vivekananda Hospital, Amphalla (Jammu) where the vaccination centre was established, said that 25-40 people enquire from them daily regarding vaccination on phone or by personally visiting the Hospital but as Government has refused to provide them vaccine, they cannot continue the vaccination drive.
An official of another private vaccination centre in Talab Tillo area said that they are ready to procure the vaccine directly but Government should at least tell them whom to contact for the vaccine as there is no stockiest or any representative of the manufacturers of the Covaxin and Covishield in whole UT. He said no person of over 75 years can/want to stand in long queues outside Government designated vaccination centres and everyday they are receiving 20-30 calls of such people. “They are eager to get them vaccinated but are reluctant to go to Government centres due to long waits, no social distancing and inadequate facilities,” he added.
Meanwhile, there is strong resentment among the young population of the age group 18-45 years for whom the J&K Government had recently established some vaccination centres under third phase of COVID vaccination drive. They alleged that despite repeated attempts, they are not getting appointments in any vaccination centres.
Expressing anguish, a 35-year-old man hailing from New Plot area of Jammu said that he has been trying to schedule the appointment for the vaccination for last one week but every time, he opens the App, he fails to get appointment. He said somebody told him day before yesterday that the window for the appointment will open at 9 pm but despite several attempts, he ends in failure. He appealed the authorities concerned to establish more vaccination centres for 18+ people so that everybody can get appointment for vaccination.
When 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.
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