Bhubaneswar: The ongoing Covid-19 vaccination drive is all set to be badly affected in the State for next few days due to shortage of vaccines especially Covishield, which is being given in all areas of the state excluding Bhubaneswar city.
The state, which was inoculated over 3 lakh doses June 21, has given less than half (1.18 lakh) doses on Tuesday. No vaccination drive was conducted in Kendrapara and Balasore districts Tuesday while there will no vaccination in 11 districts Wednesday.
According to sources, there will be no vaccination drive in Ganjam, Bolangir, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Koraput and Sonepur districts tomorrow.
Since June 21, lowest number of sessions will be held Wednesday (June 30) due to stock out situation of Covishield vaccine in the state. The state is now having only 38,380 doses of Covishield and the next allocation is expected on July 2. Till the next allocation by Centre, the vaccination drives will hardly hit in the state, the sources said.
The vaccination went well in the first week. But, now the state is unable to conduct the vaccination programmes as per its full capacity due to shortage of vaccines especially Covishield, which is being given in all areas of the state excluding Bhubaneswar city.
The state Health officials and Minister repeatedly requested the Union Government to allocate at least 6 lakh doses of Covishield immediately for smooth conduct of the ongoing vaccination programme. The Centre is yet to allocate it.