Shortage of vaccine hits mass inoculation drive in State

Health Minister says areas facing spike in cases may need local lockdown

Health Minister K.K. Shylaja on Thursday said there was a shortage of vaccine in the State and the government had requested for more vaccines from the Centre. After attending an emergency online meeting called by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Ms. Shylaja told the media that there was a worrying situation in the State due to the shortage of vaccines and that localised lockdown might be required in areas where the disease was severe. The Minister said more vaccines were expected from the Centre. However, if there was a shortage in supply, it would be difficulty to carry out the mass vaccination drive, she added. Vaccination camps in the State were in a state of disarray due to acute shortage of vaccines, which were in stock only for three days, she said. The State had started mega vaccination camps to curb the spread of the disease. The goal was to vaccinate 2.5 million people a day. The matter was brought to the notice of the Union Health Minister and the Health Secretary. The State had asked the Centre to supply 25 lakh doses each of the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines to Kerala, but received only 2 lakh doses of Covaxin. Vaccination would be completely discontinued if no more vaccines were received before April 20, said Ms. Shylaja.