On the first day of the 3rd phase Covid-19 vaccination, only 1,828 people between the age of 18 and 44 years got the first dose
IT Desk
Out of the total population of 14,29,503 between the age of 18 to 44 for the state Manipur (as per the 2011 census report), the state authority which is conducting vaccination drive in the state were managed to vaccinate only 1828 people between the age group on the first day.
Imphal West district which has a total population of 5,17,992 people between 18 years to 44 years facilitated just 93 people of this age group on the first day while 183 people of this age group from Imphal East got the first dose. For Bishnupur district who got the first dose vaccination of this age group was 146, for Chandel it was 91, for Churandpur it was 194, for Jiribam 171, For Kakching district it was 100, for Kangpokpi it was 79, for Noney it was 94, for Pherzawl it was 165, for Senapati it was 65, for Tamenglong it was 98, for Tengnoupal t was 84 , for Thoubal it was 436 and for Ukhrul district it was 90. The report said that there was no 3rd phase vaccination conducted for the age group in Kamjong district.
The 3rd phase vaccination started 16 days after the Prime Minister of India has announced for the start of vaccination for the age group between 18 plus o 44 years, Manipur government has to start the 3rd phase vaccination only after 16 days. Maybe the state government could not start the 3rd phase vaccination at the scheduled time due to the limitation of the Covishield vaccine. And it would be illogical to blame the Manipur government as many states across the nation could not start 3rd phase vaccination on schedule due to the unavailability of vaccines. Every people who are aware of the vaccine production pharmaceutical unit knows that even today there are only two vaccine production Parmatical center – the Serum Institute and the Bharat Biotech. Besides, the Serum Institute of India based in Pune which is producing the Covishield vaccine is facing trouble water, after the CEO went to UK n alleged threat from strong and influential people from across the country.
Even as there are reasons for the delay in the vaccination, which the state cannot control, there seems to be a lack of proper management of the vaccination programme taking place in the state of Manipur.
Out of the 30 lakhs population, so far 3,18,586 people have got the first dose vaccination and as many as 79,237 people got the 2nd dose vaccine as of May 17 as per official record.
Till today, the State health department had not make public the total stock of the Covishield vaccine in the State Vaccine Store (SVC). However, it is on record that on may 15, the government’s health authority had allocated 39,780 doses for vaccination of the people between 18 years to 44 years.
The question right in front of us is that- how is it that only 1,828 people only could get the first dose vaccine when the allocation was 39,780 doses. Is it because those in the health department who were supposed to implement the programme fails to open more vaccination centers? Or is it because they want to put on stock the vaccines which are meant for the people. If so, for whom?
If the surge continues to rise in the next couple of months, then the Health department authority, particularly the one heading the department should take all responsibility for the rise of the covid-19 positive cases.
