Shortage of vaccine delays in making city free from Covid-19; Repeated obstructions emerging in completing vaccination targets

Aurangabad, April 23:

Believe it or not, the shortage of vaccines has emerged as an obstruction in the fight against developing our city free from Covid-19. After vaccinating 2 lakh citizens, the AMC has been pushed to worry, it does not have the vaccine in its stock to implement the vaccination drive on Saturday.

The union Government had given a target of administering the vaccine to citizens of age 45 years and above till April 30 to each local administration. Accordingly, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) undertook the vaccination programme with the help of 140 teams (115 of AMC and private teams). The AMC was given the target of administering 2 lakh vaccine in the first phase and its duration ended today. However, the civic administration does not have any vaccine in its stock to implement the drive from Saturday.

According to sources, the AMC had set a target to administering 10,000 doses daily, but due to a shortage of vaccines, it could give the vaccine to 5,000 to 6,000 citizens per day only. According to AMC, the population of citizens of age 45 years and above (in the AMC jurisdiction) is around 5 lakh. However, the vaccination drive is stopped due to the supply of 2 lakh vaccine doses only, so far.

According to experts, " Vaccine plays an important role and prevents the spreading of Coronavirus. This was the reason why the vaccination drive was started in the city with zeal and enthusiasm. If the drive is implemented with the same then we can control the third wave in future."

Hence with this aim, the AMC took a vow to administer the vaccine to youths of age 18 years and above. The population of this age group is estimated to around 10 lakhs in the jurisdiction of the city. However, the AMC could face hindrance in proceeding towards its fresh target till it completes the vaccination of 5 lakh citizens of age 45 years and above. Needless to say, the situation got under control to a major extent during the lockdown in the city. From the detection of Covid-19 patients more than 1200 per day, the figures got reduced to 500-600 patients. The death ratio is also under control.

In the fight against the Coronavirus, the district administration along with police administration is playing an important role. Earlier, there was a lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays. Now, the lockdown has been strict and the police also succeeded in preventing a large number of citizens from wandering on the roads without any reason. In addition, the testing of such persons is also being done at many places in the city. There is a dire need for special attention of the state government towards the improving situation of the city and vaccination is one amongst all important measures and the guardian minister Subhash Desai can resolve it through his special attention.

There is no vaccine in our stock. We are facing a shortage of the vaccine. We are toes to continue the vaccination as soon as we get the fresh stock of vaccine, says the AMC administrator Astik Kumar Pandey.