Chandigarh: After states like Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand, Punjab has also reported a shortage of Covid-19 vaccine doses as Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh informed that the state is left with only 3 to 5 days of vaccine supply.
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh reported the issue during a meeting with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi where Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states participated to discuss the Coronavirus situation amid the surge in cases.
As per news agency ANI, he said that Punjab is left with only 5 days of vaccine supply with 5.7 lakh Covid vaccine doses at the current levels of vaccinating 85,000-90,000 persons a day.
If the state is able to meet its target of 2 lakh vaccines a day, then its current supplies will last only 3 days, the CM added.
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The matter of vaccine shortage has become a cause of worry amid the second wave of Coronavirus cases in the country.
On Friday, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed that private vaccination centres in Mumbai will remain closed till Monday "due to insufficient supply of Covid-19 vaccine". Meanwhile, government and municipal hospitals will continue to vaccinate people as scheduled.
"Due to insufficient supply of Covid-19 vaccine, vaccination will not be available at the immunisation centres of private hospitals on April 10, 11 and 12, 2021," BMC's statement read.
As for private hospitals, the vaccination drive will resume once more vaccine doses are made available.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had earlier criticised both Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh over reporting the shortage of vaccine stock.
"The inability of Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension. To spread panic among the people is to compound the folly further. Vaccine supplies are being monitored on a real-time basis, and State governments are being apprised regularly about it," Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday.
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The Union Health Minister went on to call the allegations of vaccine shortage "utterly baseless".
"Throughout last year as Union Health Minister, I have been witness to misgovernance and casual approach of Maharashtra government in battling the virus. Their lackadaisical attitude singularly bogged down the country’s efforts to fight virus," he said lashing out at the Maharashtra government.
After these comments, Maharashtra Health Minister went on to allege "discrimination" in the amount of vaccine stock provided to the state.
The matter of vaccine supply is being seen divided on the line of Congress vs BJP ruled states. Whether concerns raised by the Punjab Chief Minister will be raised - remains to be seen.
(With Agency Inputs)