The “Tika Utsav” announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not start in the Anantapur and Kurnool districts because vaccine supplies ran out by April 10 and the arrival of additional doses from the center was delayed.
Another factor was people’s reluctance to get vaccinated two days before the Ugadi festival.
“While those in northern India may not celebrate Ugadi, in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka we don’t want to be bogged down by the side effects of the vaccines on a festive day,” said S. Siva Prasad, who signed up for the vaccination. but did not go to the center on April 10th.
In Anantapur, stocks have run out in all urban and rural health centers where Tika Utsav was set to begin today.
No formal inauguration of the program was made in Anantapur as the district administered 24,500 doses (including 800 of the second dose) on April 10 alone.
District Medical and Health Physician Y. Kameswara Prasad said, “Aside from just a few vials that had a few PHCs left, there was literally no vaccine available until he got out of the center. So far we have given eligible individuals nearly three doses of lakh. “
While 2.62,523 people were vaccinated at night in Kurnool District through April 9, 17,000 doses were administered on April 10 alone (2.79,523 total), and the district remained 5,600 doses for Tika Utsav on Sunday.
“We are focusing on 26 urban locations in Kurnool, Nandyal, Adoni, Nandikotkur and Atmakur to deliver the vaccine as part of the program and it will be enough by 1pm,” said Rama Giddaiah, district medical doctor The Hindu.