Kozhikode too feels the pinch of vaccine shortage

Health Department reportedly claims it has stock to last only till Thursday

Kozhikode was not exempted from COVID-19 vaccine shortage that hit other districts on Wednesday. The Health Department is learnt to have claimed that it had stock to last only till Thursday, and if fresh stock does not arrive, it could trigger a crisis. A mega vaccination camp scheduled in Koyilandy Municipality had to be cancelled, and chaos prevailed at the Cherooppa primary health centre for a while, as people thronged the premises in violation of the pandemic protocol. An official claimed that vaccine shortage was severe in the hilly areas of the district. Earlier, the number of vaccination camps had to be reduced from 117 on Tuesday to 107, reportedly in view of the scarcity. According to sources, however, camps could be held only at 103 places on Wednesday. By Tuesday night, the department reportedly had a stock of only over 1,300 vials. But replenishment arrived later. Health officials claimed that 26,000 vials were used on Tuesday.