NAGPUR: As vaccination for 18+ age group resumed on Wednesday, Nagpur division witnessed a recording breaking 1.05 lakh inoculations, the highest since the start of the drive on January 17.
Over 80% (84,998) beneficiaries were from 18+ age group in the city, rural as well as rest of the division.
Nagpur district too recorded its all-time high of 42,230 inoculations as per the 10pm report uploaded on Co-Win system.
As per data recorded before 8pm, 23,703 vaccinations were done under Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits while 18,018 were from rural areas under zilla parishad.
This made up for 41,721 put on record by officials.
The deputy director of health services office said the day’s figure in the district stood at 40,239 before 8pm.
The 23,703 vaccinations were also the highest for NMC, which had recorded 16,451 on April 10.
Around 20,300 were from the 18+ group.
At most centres, youths queued up quietly for their turn.
Though this group was expected to increase footfall, the entire drive went off without much crowding.
NMC allowed 50% slots for on-the-spot registration.
The district had recorded 20,634 jabs while division figures stood at 35,517 on April 10.
The next day, district total had come down to 6,731 and division’s to 13,679.
On Tuesday, the division recorded 53,827 inoculations, with Nagpur district at 25,311.
The district was way ahead of the remaining five districts with none crossing more than 17,000 mark in the day.
At Wednesday’s rate, the entire 18+ city population could be vaccinated with first dose in next 28 days.
As per NMC estimates, 11.50 lakh population falls in this age band.
However, NMC is left with around 15,000 doses of Covishield and 4,000 of Covaxin, which indicates the figures are likely to come down on Thursday.
Vidarbha Hospital Association (VHA) convenor Dr Anup Marar welcomed the vaccination figures.
“It is gratifying.
But it is not sufficient.
Non-inclusion of private hospitals who have shown enthusiasm and conveyed their vaccine requirements to NMC to join in this mission is incomprehensible,” he said.
Dr Marar added that having all private hospitals and clinics in the team will help authorities hasten vaccination to cover all in 18+ age group.
“National Health Authority portal, where vaccine charges are to be paid by private hospitals as per new GR, is also yet to open.
There seems to be confusion on this matter, which needs urgent attention,” he said.
VHA had already given cumulative requirement of one lakh doses to Serum Institute of India, when they said large orders are being given priority.
“Surprisingly, even that order did not materialize, raising questions on the sale and distribution methodology.
Transparency in allocation and distribution is desired to allay misgivings in this direction.
When other cities are flush with vaccines, why step motherly treatment to Nagpur?” he asked.