District being given step-mother treatment in COVID vaccine supply; local politicians engaged in petty politics

Aurangabad, May 8:

It appears that local politicians who are engaged in politics over trivial issues failed to bring sufficient stock of COVID vaccine for the district.

The health machinery had to stop vaccination drive three to four days over not receiving sufficient stock.

The vaccination campaign began in the district on January 16 as per the directives of the Central Government. Frontline workers and others and those who are 45 years and above age were administered vaccines. There was not much response to the drive. Later, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation administration and health machinery extended the campaign in the city and rural areas on a wider level. The district is being given vaccine doses in small quantities during the last month. AMC administrator Astik Kumar Pandey started vaccination centres in 115 wards.

The whole machinery had to sit empty hand because of the unavailability of vaccination. The Government provided 5,000 vaccines to the AMC on Friday night. The stock of vaccines was over at 26 centres within few hours.

Also, 4,000 to 5,000 people had to move from one centre to another without vaccination.

The district is getting step-mother treatment and politicians are keeping mum.

The demand of Jalna district is just 17,000 vaccines while it was supplied 60,000 doses. Thane district was given stock of 80,000 vaccines.

No politician is ready to raise the issue of step-motherly treatment being given to the district, and instead, they are busy in politics of other minor problems.

Around 40,000 people have been waiting in the city for the second dose of vaccines. They fear that the first dose will not remain effective if they do not get the second dose on time.