Bengal govt asks private hospitals to return unused Covid-19 vaccine stock

Amid shortage of Covid-19 vaccines, private hospitals in Bengal have been asked not to use existing stock to inoculate people above 18 years from May 1.

Private hospitals in West Bengal have been asked by the government not to use existing stock of Covid-19 vaccines to inoculate people above 18 years from May 1. A notice issued by the Mamata Banerjee-led government said, "Private Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs) will not be allowed to use the existing supply of vaccines for any of the beneficiaries after April 30. Therefore, all remaining vaccines stock existing with private CVCs shall have to be returned to the concerned CCP after April 30. If private CVCs are closed for this reason, that has to be communicated to citizens through public notice to avoid harassment." "The private hospitals and industrial establishments willing to provide vaccination services may procure doses directly from the manufacturers exclusively for their hospitals," it further said.