Bengaluru: Covaxin administration for the first dose has been suspended while in all Covid-19 government vaccination centers due to the overall lack of vaccines given the trickle supply, the State Health Department and family welfare decided to ensure that those caused by those who were both doses served first.
Circular was issued by the state government on July 31 and it came into force since August 1.
Many countries have suspended covaxin for the first dose since the last week of July due to lack.
“At present, only the second dose of Covaxin will be provided at the government centers,” said Dr.
Arundhathi Chandrashekar, Mission Director, National Health Mission, Karnataka.
Covaxin administration as the first dose will continue and when the supply situation stabilizes, the authorities said.
Data from the Ministry of Health and family welfare showed around 6.1 lakh people took Covaxin’s first dose more than four weeks ago and not yet advanced to take the second dose so far.
“We need to give the second dose for all who are due,” Chandrashekar said.
The country currently has around 22,000 covaxin doses in buffer storage facilities in Bengaluru and 1.5 other doses of lakh have been supplied to all districts, including BBMP.
The Ministry of Health has directed the authority that the emphasis must be on providing existing Covaxin recipients, second shots and fully vaccinating them.
It also said awareness must be made among the recipients to appear for the second shooting and when it is due, without delay.
Covaxin continues to be available for the first dose in a private hospital.
The cost of a covaxin dose at the private vaccination center is Rs 1,410.
The first dose of Covishield is available: Covishield continues to be available for the first dose in all government vaccination centers.
However the districts have been directed to order their allocation sections exclusively for the second dose, read circles, copies with TOI.
On May 7, the Ministry of Health has suspended the first dose administration of Covishield and Covaxin in government centers due to lack of vaccines and said the entire supply would be used for the second dose.
In May-end, because the inventory is efficient, the department starts giving the first and second dose.
“Between Covishield and Covaxin, many prefer Covaxin because both doses will last for four weeks,” said a district health officer.
“We tell them that both vaccines are effective.
But the distance of 84 days between two doses for covishield encourages many people to take Covaxin.”