Covid-19 claimed two lives here in the steel city in the last 24 hours in East Singhbhum district that saw 99 more cases, according to health department officials, who also confirmed on Tuesday that there was a shortage of vaccines in government health centres.

The deceased, both men from Mango, were aged 34 and 61.

In all, as per district health authorities, East Singhbhum district has recorded 702 Covid cases since March 1. Most of them are from the steel city. The total number of Covid cases in the district as of Tuesday was 19,364.

According to district disease surveillance officer Sahir Pal, the 34-year-old man was admitted to Tata Main Hospital with high fever on Sunday. He was tested the same day. By Monday evening he was experiencing breathing difficulty, and finally succumbed to the ailment late at night.

Pal said the 64-year-old was admitted to Tata Main Hospital five days ago with fever and a bad cough. He tested Covid positive on the of his admission. On Monday night, he complained of acute breathing problems and subsequently died late at night.

"Two men died of Covid at Tata Main Hospital late on Monday night. This is the first twin deaths to have taken place in the steel city in the second phase of the pandemic," Pal told The Telegraph Online.

The disease surveillance officer admitted Covid cases were mounting, adding that health officials were now paying more attention to detection of cases and vaccinations.

Significantly, the district health authorities have stopped administering vaccines to first-time recepients as fressh vaccine stocks are yet to arrive. In most of the 20 goverment health hubs, the vaccine is being given only to those awating their second dose.

But there is no vaccine shortage at the 27 private health clinics/hospitals where jabs are being offered for Rs 250 a dose.

District civil surgeon A.K. Lal admitted there was a supply disruption at government health hubs.

"A vaccine crisis has cropped up after several private health hubs have lifted stocks of Covishield from our departmental storage. But these stocks are being used. We will be able to get fresh stocks after submitting accounts of previous stocks," he said, adding that some health centres were borrowing vaccines from neighbouring districts.