Vaccine Shortage: Covishield Jabs For 18-44 Age Group In Bhubaneswar?

Bhubaneswar: Amid a shortage of Covaxin for the 18-44 age group, the Odisha government is reportedly contemplating diverting Covishield for inoculating denizens of the Odisha capital.

Director of Health and Family Welfare Bijay Panigrahi informed that the available Covaxin doses are just enough for giving the second jab to those who have been vaccinated with the first, for the next two weeks. “Covishield option may be used for those who have not taken any doses,” he told the TOI.

Doses Administered

Age 18-44 years (1st Dose): 757881 (44%)
Age 18-44 years (2nd dose): 720

Of the vaccines procured by the state for the 18 and above age group, only 2,830 doses of Covaxin and 4,290 doses of Covidshield are currently available, the report said.

According to official sources, Odisha is likely to receive 26,000 doses of Covaxin by June 7 and 2,27,750 doses of Covishield by June 9 for this age group.

Also Read: Odisha To Receive Vaccines For 18-44 Age Group Next Week

Covaxin has so far been used for the vaccination drives in Bhubaneswar and Covishield for the rest of the state.

On Thursday, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Sanjay Singh had also admitted to the shortage but was hopeful of receiving the doses in the next 10 days, before the due date (June 13) of the second jab for those vaccinated on May 3 when the drive began.

Amid apprehensions that the drive will be halted from June 2, the civic body had opened slots for vaccination till June 5.

Also Read: No Vaccination Of People Aged 18 Years & Above In Bhubaneswar From June 2!

While 1.62 lakh of the targetted 5.23 lakh people have received the first dose in Bhubaneswar, only 720 have got the second jab, the reported added.