To increase the speed of vaccination in the country, it was decided to include private hospitals. However, its benefit is not visible at the moment. At the same time, more than 22.75 crore doses of anti-Covid-19 vaccines have been given in the country so far.
New Delhi:
The policy of connecting private hospitals to speed up the vaccination against the corona epidemic in the country is not showing the desired effect. The new vaccination policy was to promote vaccination through the private sector. But CoWin data shows that it has reduced the number of private sector actually delivering vaccine doses. The government has allowed hospitals to deal directly with vaccine makers. In such a situation, many hospitals do not have the facility of vaccine procurement, transport and other logistics. This is having an effect on vaccination.
Reduction in the number of vaccination centers
By the end of April this year, the vaccine was being administered every day at around 5,000 private centres. But now this number has come down to around 1300 to 1700. According to an analysis by Times of India’s Insight Group, the vaccine was being administered at 1,689 private vaccination centers on Friday.
Center had to be closed due to lack of vaccine
The Center had justified the “liberalised” vaccine policy in its affidavit in the Supreme Court. The rationale behind this was that setting aside 25% of the vaccine for the private sector would facilitate better access. Those who can give money will soon be able to get the vaccine in a private hospital. The situation is that hundreds of private hospitals, especially small and medium hospitals, have had to stop or significantly slow down vaccination due to non-availability of vaccine doses. They are too small to be able to deal and place orders directly with the companies that produce the vaccine.
No vaccine dose was applied since May 16
A comparison of the number of doses given in private hospitals in the eight largest cities as of May 30 shows that more than three-fourths of private vaccine centers had given some or no doses since May 16. Only 10% of private centers administered more than 500 vaccine doses in this two-week period. Most of these were large hospitals, centers set up by corporate chain hospitals and workplaces by private companies.
Government should focus on vaccination program
Private hospitals say that the government should pay special attention under the vaccination program. Many big private hospitals say that we spent 76 lakh rupees and we got 12000 doses. At the same time, many hospitals have given money but till now the vaccine dose has not been received in their hospital, most of the people are waiting.
So far 22.75 crore people have got the vaccine
More than 22.75 crore doses of anti-COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country so far, of which 33,57,713 doses were given on Friday. The Union Health Ministry gave this information. The ministry said that 16,23,602 people in the 18-44 age group were given the first dose of the vaccine on Friday, while 31,217 people in the same group were given the second dose.
First dose of vaccine to 10 lakh people of 18+
So far, a total of 2,58,45,901 people in the 18-44 years group across 36 states and union territories have received the first dose of vaccine, while 1,18,299 people have received the second dose. The vaccination campaign for this group started from May 1. The ministry said that in Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, more than 10 lakh people in the age group of 18-44 have been given the first dose of the vaccine.
