HYDERABAD: With a crore Covishield doses already administered to beneficiaries in the state, health officials have decided to continue to give priority for second dose (both varieties).
With guidelines being changed depending on the availability of the vaccine stock, the government is making efforts to ensure 1.5 lakh jabs are given daily.
Ever since 100 vaccination centres in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) began a drive for high-risk groups apart from urban primary health centres (UPHCs), guidelines have changed.
At UPHCs, only second doses were being given. GHMC centres were providing both first and second doses (both varieties) depending on the availability. Availability of vaccine type depends on the second dose requirement in that particular area.
After vaccine supply shortage in the past few days, all GHMC vaccine centres were supplied more than 600 doses of Covishield each on Thursday.
“The vaccines will be available at one centre or the other, people can find out from officials and take the dose. We are making all efforts,” a GHMC official said.
Officials were conducting rapid antigen tests on people tuning up for vaccine doses in areas reporting a spurt in Covid-19 cases.
Meanwhile, in view of short supply of vaccine, districts have been asked to give priority for second dose beneficiaries, but no such guidelines were issued in GHMC.
However, second dose was being given preference depending on the turnout on a particular day. Despite rain on Thursday, 1.8 lakh doses were given.
“People, especially in urban areas, are eager to get vaccine. Also, most people are preferring government vaccine centres,” an official said.
