Noida / Ghaziabad: Faced with an erratic supply of vaccines, the Ministry of Health has decided to focus on the second dose now.
Walk-in vaccination has been completely stopped in government centers in Noida in the absence of sufficient dose.
Officials at Noida said that around 3.5 lakh people had to be given the second dose of the covishield this month while around 35,000 would require covaxin.
In Ghaziabad, around 2.4 lakh shots were given in May and they will qualify for the second dose of this month.
The majority of them are given a covishield.
In August, officials said, at least 3 Lakh people would need a second dose in Ghaziabad.
Officials say even though the focus will be at the second dose, they will give the first dose if there is enough stock.
The source said there was no large stock of the vaccine that came in since the last mega drive on 3.
To date, Ghaziabad has around 16,000 covishield and 18,000 covaxin doses in stock.
It received 13,500 doses on Wednesday, the administration on Thursday along with previous shares to vaccinate around 20,000 people.
After the highest record in June, Jab Department of Health until July and August has been directly proportional to the number of doses supplied by the state.
In July, the vaccine supply policy was changed and centralized by the center.
“Until now, we have a little dose left.
So, we prioritize and reduce the number of centers.
We have 16 centers now, where only those who have ordered a slot in advance are permitted.
We will increase the center every time we get more doses , “said Sunil Sharma, head of the Nida medical officer.
The number of government centers has been reduced from around 70 in June to 30 in July and only 16 now in Noida.
Of these, four centers have covaxin, mainly provided for the second dose, and 12 is intended for covishield.
During the mega vaccination camp on August 3, 41,737 people had been given a shot.
However, with stock began to dry up, the Ministry of Health was inoculated only around 12,000 people the following day and 8,500 a day after.
During the last five days, 3,000-4,000 shots were given an average every day at less than 20 centers.
“For those who can travel more, some slots in Jiwar are available until later and can be ordered online.
We must distribute the doses available in all districts, but the more crowded center ordered earlier,” said Neeraj Tyagi, district immunization officers.
Meanwhile, another Mega campaign has been scheduled for August 16.
This time, efforts were made to vaccinate more than 60,000 recipients in Ghaziabad and around 40,000 in Noida.