Amid the Covid-19 scare and continued efforts by the authorities to administer booster shots, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has declared that 1.2 lakh doses of Covaxin in its stocks are set to expire by January-end.
Doses of Covaxin
The civic body stated that only 20% of the eligible Bengaluru citizens had taken the booster dose. It added that it is planning to order more doses of Covaxin and Covishield. BBMP special commissioner (health) Dr. Trilok Chandra said that the civic body is planning to order 5 lakh doses of Covishield and 2 lakh doses of Corbevax.
As per the BBMP report, over 91 lakh people have been administered both doses of Covishield, and 9 lacks have got two Covaxin doses. However, the civic body is yet to find out the exact number of people eligible for booster shots.
Booster doses are presently being administered free to people aged 60 years and above and those aged above 40 and have co-morbidities at all BBMP facilities. BBMP officials recommend that there could be 2.5-3 lakh people eligible for Covaxin booster dose at the civic body’s facilities. However, the civic body is still collecting data to find out the exact number of people eligible for Covishield, reported Times Now.
Vaccines expired
BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath reported that Covaxin doses will be returned to the state government after they get expired. However, till the date of expiry, the same will be administered to those who turn up to get the shots.
He added that a meeting is scheduled on Monday to make plans for placing an order for new booster doses. “We are holding a meeting to determine the number of doses that need to be ordered. After that a request will be placed before the state government,” he said.
Giri Nath further stated that after determining the number of citizens eligible for the booster dose, the BBMP will reach out to them. Awareness drives and advertisements will also be conducted to inform and encourage people to take booster shots. However, the BBMP chief asserted that the COVID situation in Bengaluru was under control and there was no need to panic.
