All vaccination centres for the 18 to 44 year age group across the district have suspended operations for the last two days due to shortage in regular supply.

The centres vaccinating those above 45 years are functional.

“We had to discontinue the vaccination for the 18 plus age group since May 26 due to shortage of vaccine stocks but as new stock normally comes on Sunday every week we are expecting to re-launch the drive from Monday,” said Vikash Rana, district reproductive and child health officer of Dhanbad to The Telegraph Online.

“Though we are operating 25 centres for 45 and above age groups, attendance has been quite low at these centres since May 26 due to bad weather conditions including rain and storm and many people can’t reach the centres,” elaborated Rana.

“We are however getting great response from the 18 to 44 age group beneficiaries and the helpline launched for addressing queries is very busy all the time,” said Rana.

“Though I registered on the CoWin portal on April 29 itself to get Covaxin, I am still waiting for my slot,” said Gaurav Dey, a resident of Chiragora in Dhanbad.
Ritika Dey a cousin of Gaurav Dey said, “I also registered on the portal on April 29 but could not get the slot till date.” She said they could not go out of the house even for essential work due to being unvaccinated and wanted to get vaccinated as early as possible.

Vijaya Tripathi a housemaker of Jharia said, “We also wanted to get vaccinated as early as possible but despite being registered on the Cowin portal we are not getting a slot.”