KOLKATA: Around 6 crore individuals in the age group of 18-59 years in Bengal will be eligible for the precautionary third dose which is expected to be rolled out from Sunday. Only those who received their second dose nine months ago will receive the dose now. But those going for the booster shots in this age group will have to pay as the rollout has been planned only from private vaccination centres for the time being, according to an announcement by the health ministry.
The state health department is expected to get the details after meeting health ministry officials on Saturday morning.
The announcement has brought a sense of relief to private hospitals as many were staring at vaccine wastage due to low demand. Even though they are yet to receive any directive from the state government, private hospitals have started preparing for the rollout.
“This was the need of the hour on the face of new variants being reported elsewhere and the talks of a possible surge by June/July. We are ready to launch our drive for this age group,” said Sudipta Mitra, CEO, Peerless Hospital.
The footfall at private CVCs currently ranges between 10 and 60 doses a day. Private hospitals, however, said they will not order new vaccine stocks for now.
“We are ready and waiting for the directive. Despite our efforts to exhaust our existing stock through CSR activities, we still have a reasonable stock left due to low demand with which we will begin the drive. Depending on the response, we will decide to procure new stock,” said regional director (east) of Narayana Health R Venkatesh.
Medica Superspecialty Hospital deputy medical director Amit Ray said, “We have the vaccines and manpower for the drive. We can ramp up these facilities further if the need arises and be part of this national initiative.”
“This is a very positive initiative as this will minimise the chance of vaccine wastage at private CVCs as many private hospitals are left with unused stocks,” said AMRI Hospitals group CEO Rupak Barua.
While the inoculation drive for the 45-plus group with comorbidities was launched on March 1 last year, everyone in this age group minus the comorbidity factor was made eligible for the jab a month later. The drive for the 18-44 age group began on May 11, 2021.
“We have a reasonable vaccine stock to start this drive. If needed, the stock can be replenished at a short notice since supply is not an issue any more,” said Simmardeep Gill, CEO, CK Birla Hospitals.
Those above 60 years, healthcare workers and frontliners will continue to have access to free vaccine at government CVCs.
