Tamil Nadu improves vaccine utilisation rate

Tamil Nadu is enhancing its COVID-19 vaccine utilisation rate, however lack of sufficient provide has been slowing the drive. Right now, the general vaccination efficiency in opposition to provide stands at 97%, with 10 well being unit districts (HUDs) reaching utilisation of 100% or extra.

From going through vaccine hesitancy earlier, the State is witnessing a rising demand. The want of the hour is elevated provide. “Now, we are running with one to two days of stock. Our team can plan vaccination in the peripheral areas if we have the stock for a week. We are not in a comfortable position and we are pushing the stock as and when we get it,” mentioned T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Of the 71 lakh doses allotted for the State this month, 20 lakh doses have to this point been provided. “Right now, our routine is to manage with 3.5 lakh doses to 4 lakh doses. However, we will be in a good position if we have five lakh doses a day,” he mentioned.

Data launched by the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine confirmed that as of July 11, the whole doses provided was 1,67,88,460. Of them, 1,62,61,985 doses have been administered. Except for Ramanathapuram and Aranthangi, the place the efficiency stood at 85% and 88% respectively, the remaining 43 HUDs recorded over 90%. Ten HUDs have utilisation of 100% or extra — Cheyyar (102%), Erode (100%), Karur (104%), Krishnagiri (100%), Nagapattinam (103%), Kanniyakumari (103%), Sivakasi (101%), Tenkasi (102%), Tiruchi (100%) and Tiruppur (104%). Chennai, which obtained 28,63,750 doses, has utilised 26,96,252 doses, a efficiency of 94%. Coimbatore and Madurai recorded 97% and 99% respectively.

Earlier, in an explainer, the DPH laid down the elements for administration of extra doses, in opposition to the doses provided — overfill, lifeless house in syringe and effectivity of healthcare employees. Each individual is run 0.5 ml. “It is scientifically and technically possible and permissible to vaccinate 11 to 12 persons using a 10-dose vial. This does not affect the accurate dose,” it mentioned.

Vaccine producers offered further doses of 16% to 24% in a 5-ml vial, permitting healthcare employees to manage 11 to 12 doses. Next was the usage of syringes with low lifeless house. “Tamil Nadu uses auto disable syringes that are specially designed for immunisation. This syringe has low dead space,” Dr. Selvavinayagam mentioned.

Better consciousness

From a time when vaccines have been wasted with fewer takers, the demand has improved, thanks to raised consciousness over the months. Officials mentioned the State had earlier accounted for six% vaccine wastage. “The efficiency of our health workers has improved,” Dr. Selvavinayagam mentioned. Health employees have been requested to utilise the extra dose provided that it’s the correct dose and to not take from one other vial.

M. Sangeetha, Deputy Director of Health Services, Cheyyar HUD, shaped a cellular medical staff and a static medical staff. Each staff contains a physician, a employees nurse and a well being assistant. “This mobile team vaccinates people gathered at a place and moves on to the second spot to ensure that doses are not wasted and the vaccine is administered in the four-hour period. The second team stays at the site to check the post-vaccination well-being of the beneficiaries. This way, we ensure no doses are wasted,” she mentioned.

V. Anand Kumar, nodal officer of Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Omandurar Estate, the place 300-350 individuals are vaccinated a day, mentioned, “We decide according to the crowd at the vaccination centre. For instance, if we have 300 persons at 10 a.m., we allocate 30 vials. Those coming after 11 a.m. are informed of the need to have 10 persons to open a vial… Some of them wait, while some return the next day. We want to ensure that not a single dose is wasted, and people are co-operative. It is a simple policy but needs to be followed meticulously.”