The “Tika Utsav”, which is due to begin across the country on Sunday, was canceled in the Visakhapatnam district because the vaccine supply was exhausted. People’s initial apathy for receiving the shock has turned into an urgent apathy amid the rapid second wave.
This, to some extent, may have contributed to the vaccine running out too early. Those who had their first shot a month or more ago are now concerned about whether they can take the second dose on time. A senior from the Marripalem VUDA Colony who received his first dose at a private hospital near NAD Junction was asked to wait a few days.
Two weeks ago, a Muralinagar resident who went to a private hospital near Simhachalam was politely informed that he had run out of supplies and that the district authorities needed fresh supplies. He was asked to come after a few days. It is different that the hospital later procured vaccines.
A resident of the official colony near KGH took the first dose a month ago at a private hospital near the colony. He approached the hospital on Saturday for the second dose, but was told there was no supply. He is concerned that he will be able to take the second dose in the allotted time.
PV Sudhakar, COVID-19 Special Envoy for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam Districts, and P. Suryanarayana, DM & HO, have confirmed that vaccine supplies in the district are depleted when contacted by The Hindu On Sunday.
“There is no compulsion that a person who took the first shot in a particular hospital should take the second in the same location,” he said.