Supply, not hesitancy, slowing down vaccination

As State overcomes hesitancy and improves utilisation, inadequate supply remains a barrier

Tamil Nadu has been one of the poorest performing States, only next to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, in COVID-19 vaccine coverage, with just an estimated 13.8% of its eligible population having received at least one dose of the vaccines, and only 3.6% having taken both. National averages for both measures are 20% and 3.3% respectively. The State has often attracted criticism for vaccine hesitancy and wastage that were cited for its performance. However, an analysis of the supply of vaccines received by the State government and the doses it has administered clearly proves the State government’s concern off late that limitations in supply and not hesitancy has been standing in its way of inoculating people at a faster rate. Even as the State sharply improved its utilisation, the supply available to it has slowed down. Importantly, data showed that as a proportion of the population, the vaccine doses supplied to Tamil Nadu by the Centre were significantly lower when compared to the rest of the States put together.