Vaccine Stocks Exhausting In Delhi, Merely One Day’s Covaxin Stocks Left, Covishield May Last For 3-4 Days: Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain

Vaccine shortage across the nation has become a serious concern as the number of people to be vaccinated is more, but vaccines are exhausting. Amidst the rising number of cases and deaths in Delhi, vaccines remained the only hope for saving people’s lives. But the ‘unplanned’ vaccination drive by the government has left the people thwarted from achieving herd immunity.

Several experts and scientists all across the world have emphasized the importance of vaccination. In such a situation, vaccination remains the only option to cease the pandemic as it immunizes the body against the virus. Several states reported a shortage in vaccines from the beginning of the vaccination drive itself. This is making the whole world question the government’s preparedness and response against the pandemic. 

Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi said in an interview, that a large number of people could have been saved if the vaccination drive occurred smoothly and timely. Attacking the center, he further added, “when the vaccine was developed, in India, we along with the whole world thought that the people could be saved, and the pandemic would be gone soon. But the government was busy selling Indian vaccines to the whole world without thinking about its citizens. The Modi government was busy in building its image in front of the whole world instead of working for its citizens.”

Delhi left with only one day’s Covaxin stock: Satyendar Jain

Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain in an interview on May 10 said that the city is now left with only a week’s Covaxin dose. On the other hand, Covishield’s stock would last only for three to four days. This remark from the minister came after Delhi’s CM Arvind Kejriwal urged the central government to increase the supply and manufacture of vaccines between May to July. 

“The doses of Covaxin can only last one day, and the doses of Covishield can last for three to four days,” Mr. Jain told reporters after reviewing arrangements at the Gugu Teg Bahadur COVID Care Center at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in central Delhi. Delhi has so far received 5.5 lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines for the 18-44 segment, as well as more than 43 lakh 45-plus lakhs, from health workers and paramedics, according to government data released on May 9.

39 lakhs vaccine doses have been administered in the capital so far. Delhi had 4.65 lakh doses of COVID vaccines available for people above 45, similarly, 2.74 lakh doses were available for people between 18-45 till the evening of May 9. The Health Minister expressed a ‘ray of hope as there is a downfall in the number of daily cases and positivity rates in the capital.

The cases have dipped from 28,000 to 13,000 now. Whereas, the positivity rate has reduced from a high of 36 percent to 20 percent. Mr. Jain said the 400-bed Gugu Teg Bahadur COVID Care Center was connected to Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan. The Delhi Management Committee Sikh Gurdwara provided the facility’s infrastructure and the Delhi government provided medical support, he said.

The COVID care team will be managed by 50 doctors in LNJP hospital in Delhi, said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of DSMGC. They will be accompanied by 150 nurses and ward boys, he further added. The hospital beds will be having oxygen concentrators along with 150-D type oxygen cylinders. Remdisivir and Fabiflu will be used to treat the COVID-19 patients. “The treatment will be completely free, and patients requiring 20litres/minutes oxygen can be admitted here,” he said.