Mad rush for JE vaccine; 10 thousand receive shots
Source: The Sangai Express
CCpur, July 28 2016:
The vaccination exercise conducted by the Health Department at two locations saw a huge turn-out today with officials overseeing the exercise seeking police help to manage the crowd.
Over 10,000 people were administered the JE vaccine today taking the total heads receiving the shot since last week to 17500 .
With the arrival of vials from Imphal, the administration of the vaccine began around 1 pm at two locations � one at the Immunisation office and the other at the district hospital campus.
Anticipating a huge turn-out officials set-up 6 booths within the hospital campus and deployed over 40 nurses to administer the injection while another 5 injection points were maintained at the Immunisation Office with about a dozen personnel manning the points.
However despite the best efforts put forward by the health officials headed by the District Immunisation Officer Dr VC Pau, hundreds returned dejected as the vials stocks ran out later in the evening.
With all the 2000 vials it received today being utilised, the number of people receiving the shot is estimated to be a little over 10,000 as some of the stocks already with the DIO were also given to the people, said an official.
One vial can be administered to 5 persons.
The crowd which swelled in the evening and the queues were disrupted and announcements made through the PA system went unheeded forcing health officials to seek the help of the police to manage them.
Some personnel deployed at the DIO even claimed that they were intimidated by some people, saying it will be difficult to for them to continue the exercise tomorrow without police presence.
"Some people even came to us and said we should be held responsible if they get the virus if they are not administered the vaccine today," alleged an official, while highlighting their plight despite their best efforts.
The vaccination exercise is set to continue tomorrow as well from 1 pm, as the department has to again pick-up the vials from Imphal.