Vaccine shortage: Even people in older age group turned away

Only 19,602 doses administered across all age groups in govt. hospitals and PHCs on Saturday in view of vaccine shortage

With mixed messages on vaccine availability from the State government, 40-year-old Raju S. was not sure if he would actually get his first shot when he decided to visit a vaccination camp organised by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at Medahalli Government School, near K.R. Puram, on Saturday. But when he arrived, he found only around 10 people waiting in line to get their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. With no one in the above 45 years category, the staff at the camp decided to vaccinate him and others who fell in the 18 to 44 years category. Unlike Mr. Raju, many citizens, even those in the older age groups, were unable to find vaccination centres that had stock. On the first day of a tepid start to the fourth phase of the vaccination drive, vaccines were in short supply at government-run and private centres. Only 19,602 doses across all age groups were administered in government hospitals and primary health centres on Saturday as against the daily average of over 40,000.