Last week, Chandigarh had received 12,000 doses of covid vaccine, COVIDSHEILD, from Serum Institute of India which has been stored in GMSH-16.
Earlier it was decided that the vaccine would be administered at eight sites but due to limited number of doses, the UT Health Department has decided to cut down the vaccination sites to four – two vaccination sites at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, and one each at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Sector 16 and the Civil Hospital in Sector 45.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Dr Amandeep Kaur Kang, Director, Health Services, UT, said that with 12,000 COVIDSHEILD doses, 5400 healthcare workers can be inoculated. “Assuming 10 per cent wastage, a total of 10,800 doses will remain with us, of which 5,400 doses will be given on the first day and the remaining 5,400 doses will be stored to be given to beneficiaries after a gap of 28 days.”
He also added that once opened, the vial has to be used within four hours and if not it may get wasted.
Starting from January 16, in the first phase of vaccination drive in Chandigarh, every day 10 sessions will be held at each site and not more than 100 healthcare workers will be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the PGI has 12,000 healthcare workers to be vaccinated within the institute and yet to receive the vaccine consignment from the Central Government.
Source: The Tribune