The voice of Imphal Times-
Imphal, May 14:
Until May 11, Imphal Times manage to access report about the stock of Covishied vaccine at the State Vaccine Store (SVS). However, on the following day, those authorities in charge of the SVS cut off every access to find out the actual number of Covishield vials in the SVS. Neither their authority have never brief the media about the present stock of Covishield vaccine for reason best known to them.
Imphal Times had reported that as of 9.30 am on Tuesday (May 11) total stock of Covishield vaccine at the State Vaccine Store was only 90,090 vials. These can vaccinate to around 9,00,900 people as each vial can vaccinate 10 doses. On May 13, i.e. yesterday Covishield vaccine numbering around 40,000 doses arrived. That is around 4,000 vials of the Covishield vaccine.
In addition to yesterday’s arrival, the total doses of Covishield so far received by the State government is (5,12,390 + 40,000) 5,52,390 doses only.
As per official report of the health department, the total number of people vaccinated in four days i.e. from May 9 to May 12 was 25,031. This means that if the vaccination continues without a break at the same speed, only 6250 may get vaccination on an average per day.
Vaccination of Covishield began in the State since January middle week. And as per the official record total number of people above 45 years vaccinated the first dose is 2,96,894, and those who jabbed 2nd doses is 78,608. When calculated total number of doses used in (78,608 x 2) 1,57,218 plus 2,96,894, i.e 4,54,112.
The total number Covishield received by the State is 5,52,390 till yesterday. So when calculated number of vaccines in stock should be 98,278 doses (if in case no wastage).
Leaving aside people below 45 years, the total population of people above 45 years as per the 2011 census is 5,64,527. This may have increased a lot in 2021 census but as of now, there are no official records.
Calculation based on 2011 census report around 1,10,415 (1 Lakh 10 thousand 4 hundred fifteen) people over 45 years are yet to be vaccinated.
So the number of vaccines required is 5,17,724 doses. This is because 2,96,894 people who already get the first dose need 2nd dose and the remaining 1,10,415 need two doses.
The state govt at present has only 98,278 doses in stock.
At a time when the graph of positive covid-19 cases have been on the rise since May 2 till yesterday and the numbers of death during the period i.e. from May 2 to May 13 reaching 126. And the number of positive cases rose by 5,671 during these 11 days, vaccination of 6000 people per day is like chasing the fire and not going ahead of it.
A source said that the government is planning to start vaccinating people between 18 years to 45 years from May 17 if so will this be another trick to fool the people as the world knows that India as a whole is facing vaccine shortage.
On the other hand, name shake vaccination without revealing the truth will not help fighting the covid-19 pandemic. Creating demand without procuring adequate supply will only cause anger to the public. Fact should be put in regard of the vaccination programme at public domain instead of conducting name shake vaccination.
