Bhubaneswar: The inoculation drive had to be stopped at 1054 in eight districts of Odisha, including five hotspots, on Sunday due to the unavailability of COVID-19 vaccine doses.
According to official sources, vaccination came to a halt in Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sonepur and Sambalpur districts. The drive was also stopped in urban areas of 10 districts, bordering Chhattisgarh, due to weekend shutdown in accordance with the state government directive.
Only 52,041 doses could be administered in 446 centres on Sunday. The state was vaccinating over 2.5 lakh doses a day a week ago.
Health and Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi told the media that Odisha will take another six months to cover the eligible beneficiaries if the drive is conducted at this pace.
The state received two lakh doses of Covishield against the demand for 25 lakh doses of the vaccine.
