In a letter to Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Friday, Odisha Health Secretary PK Mahapatra said that due to lack of vaccine, the government was unable to create a vaccination session.
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The central government recently said that given the pace of vaccination in the state of Odisha, the state will soon be given adequate quantity of COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, only a few days later, the state Health Secretary has accused the state of not having the intended supply of the vaccine.
In a letter to Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Friday, Odisha Health Secretary PK Mahapatra said that due to lack of vaccine, the government was not able to create a vaccination session. He said that in many states, more than 3 lakh people are being vaccinated in a day, but due to lack of vaccine in Odisha, the state government is not able to give vaccine to even 1 lakh people in 24 hours. Mahapatra said in his letter, we are planning to increase our immunization to 2 lakh shots in a day.
About 10 million people over the age of 45 years
Earlier this week, the Center announced an expansion of vaccine coverage to include people over 45 years of age. While there are about 10 million people over 45 years of age in Odisha. Responding to Mahapatra’s letter, Bhushan said that out of 3,446,760 doses of COVID-19 vaccine given to Odisha till March 27, a total of 2,297,431 doses were given to 2,297,431 eligible beneficiaries. After which Odisha has been released with 1,149,329 doses.
He said that a total of 207,229 beneficiaries have been vaccinated in the last 3 days in Odisha, resulting in a daily average vaccination rate of 69,076 beneficiaries. The ministry is constantly reviewing daily and allocating vaccines based on the progress of vaccination in all states and union territories. The Ministry has already allocated an additional supply of 548,250 doses, which will reach Odisha on March 28, 2021.
New vaccine shipment will be delivered soon
On Saturday, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that he has spoken to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan about the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines in Odisha. He said that Dr. Harsh Vardhan assured me that there is no shortage of doses of COVID-19 vaccines, he will soon make the vaccine available in the state.
