Vaccine recipient numbers dip across private hospitals in Kolkata – Times of India

Kolkata: The number of vaccine recipients has come down to a trickle at most private hospitals in Kolkata, which are often not getting even 10 a day so as to open a vial. Since each Covishield and Covaxin vial contains 10 doses that have to be used within a day once unsealed, some have been forced to waste doses.
Most are now calling up recipients and asking them to book a slot rather than just walk in, and hospital staff are being given the residual doses.
With the state opening up more centres and many senior citizens still waiting for the completion of the mandatory time gap after their second dose, the demand has slid, said hospitals. They also pointed out that many had Covid during the third wave last month and have to wait three months for their precaution dose.
RTIICS has procured a large volume of Covaxin for those between 15 and 18 years, but so far, has not had more than 10-15 recipients per day. “Most days, around five doses of the second vial is wasted. We are planning to give priority to prior bookings over walk-in recipients. If we see that after administering one vial, there are only four-five walk-in recipients, then we will request them to come the next day to ensure we do not waste doses. This will continue till the demand increases,” said RTIICS zonal head R Venkatesh. The hospital is administering around 100 doses a day — mostly precautionary doses for senior citizens, frontline workers and its staff. The number of second-dose recipients has been few.
At Peerless Hospital, the number of doses has dropped to 40-50 a day. The hospital is often finding it difficult to use more than three vials a day. “To ensure that doses are not wasted, we have drawn up a list of our staff who are being given the residual shots. We are now planning to stick to prior appointments,” said CEO Sudipta Mitra.
The number of doses has come down to just 10 a day for Covaxin and 20 for Covishield on an average at Belle Vue Clinic. Recipients are often being sent away since the number of takers is not reaching 10. “We have reduced the vaccination hours to just two-and-half from 9.30am. With the 15-18 age group due to get their second doses next week, the numbers could rise,” said CEO P Tondon.
AMRI Hospitals are asking recipients to book slots. “We are still administering doses to those walking in, but our centres are finding it difficult to use up opened vials. While there is still some demand for Covishield, Covaxin has few takers. The 15-18 group, it seems, prefers school camps and government centres,” said CEO Rupak Barua.
Woodlands Hospital is administering around 90 doses daily. “With the number of recipients dipping, it is often difficult to get 10 recipients of Covishield within the stipulated six hours of opening a vial. To avoid wastage, we are giving the remaining doses to our staff as precaution dose. We are not facing such issues with Covaxin as the vial can be used for a longer period when stored at 2°C-8°C,” said Rupali Basu, MD & CEO.