Thiruvananthapuram: People registering for vaccine online are unable to get appointments owing to vaccine shortage faced by state, , said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state currently has only 3,68,840 doses in stock, the reason why it was urged the centre for a consignment of 50 lakh shots at one go. The demand was placed before the centre formulated its new policy on vaccine.
Some might wonder why the state needs to call on such huge stock instead of doses just enough for day or two. Well, potential receivers are given appointments online several days in advance. For vaccine centres to be able to administer the shots at scheduled appointments, it is essential to have bulk stored in advance so it that can be delivered to these venues ideally in time and without interruption. However now, with state short on stock, appointments at a stretch too are being witheld, said CM.
Appointments Will Become Available
Currently, as soon as stock arrives, time slots are allotted for the next day and quickly get exhausted as a result of which, those visiting the website at a later time on the day find no appointments available. However, that does not however mean time-slots have ended for next few days. If one were to visit the site next day, vacant time-slots will mostly likely appear again. The solution to this tricky situation is having sufficient stock so as to be able to provide time-slots over several days ahead, said CM.
Wider Arrangements At Vaccine Centers; Will Appoint Nodal Officer
Arrangements shall be broadened to prevent cramming at vaccine centres in Thiruvananthapuram, said CM. Inoculations are running smooth at 51 centres in the district. At mass-vaccination centres such as Jimmy George Indoor Stadium, special officer of Thesildar rank shall be deputed as Nodal officer to oversee methodology and arrangements on venue.
Meanwhile, the government instructed the district’s private medical colleges to reserve 70 percent of beds for Covid patients. 50 percent of these will become available today,. 30 percent of reserve these beds will be dedicated to patients referred under Karunya scheme. Also, ambulance teams have been deployed at taluk level to ensure emergency transit services for panchayat Domiciliary Care Centres, FLCs and CFLTCs set up in the district.
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