Mysore/Mysuru: Free vaccination sites may be forced to put up ‘No Stock’ board in front of the centres in city from May 11 if the fresh stock of vaccine failed to arrive within the next 48 hours.

Highly placed sources told SOM that as on today, they have a stock of 12,000 doses which may exhaust in two days with 6,000 vaccinations going on for persons above 45 years of age, that too only second dose.

Going by that, the current stock may be sufficient till Monday. In fact, there was no sign of arrival of fresh stock from Bengaluru, sources added.

Three days ago, a circular from National Health Mission had allowed vaccination in 70:30 ratio. Seventy percent for second dose takers and 30 for first dose takers. But with inordinate delay in the arrival of fresh stock of two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, another circular was issued on Saturday for 100 percent inoculation of second dose beneficiaries in the district. 

Going forward, the Government of India has threatened to stop further free supply of vaccines to vaccinate beneficiaries of 45-plus if the districts divert the doses to first time takers.

With strong directions from the Central Government, the authorities stuck to rules in urban areas but not in rural areas due to pressure from various quarters. The first dose takers came to DHO Office and created ruckus for not giving the first dose to 45-plus categories. Besides, district officers were getting abusive calls for denying the first dose to 45 years category population.

Yet to jab one lakh people

Still, one lakh people who have already received first dose, were due to get the second dose failing which the vaccine will not be effective on them. For this reason, the Government of India was asking all States and Union Territories to finish second dose for beneficiaries.

In Mysuru District, many of them who have taken first dose, have to be reminded and bring them to the vaccination centres. In fact, vaccination has been quite successful in rural areas than the city. To vaccinate them, the Government of India had to supply the vaccines in sufficient number to complete second dose of vaccination for 45-plus population.

CoWIN to be upgraded

The Government of India is planning to upgrade CoWIN portal once the vaccination of 18-plus population is taken up simultaneously in all States. This was yet to begin in some States like Karnataka which has placed orders for the supply of both vaccines.