Vaccine available only at 2 private hospitals in Himachal Pradesh, locals fret

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 10

Even as 19 private health institutions in Himachal Pradesh are registered on the CoWIN portal for offering vaccine, but so far only two have started the facility. These are Fortis Hospital, Kangra, and Jindal Sanjeevani Hospital, Sholtu, Kinnaur.

With the shortage of doses at government centres, which are these days offering jabs only to 45-plus category, those in the 18-44 age group are finding it difficult to get themselves vaccinated.

Dearth of doses at govt centres

Owing to shortage, government centres are offering jabs only to 45-plus category

Those in the 18-44 age group are finding it difficult to get themselves vaccinated

Of the 19 private hospitals registered on CoWIN, one each in Kangra and Kinnaur have started the facility

Vaccine for the latter category will be available at government centres on June 14 and 17, but only those who have booked the slots will be entertained. While people from Shimla are travelling to Kinnaur private facility to get themselves vaccinated, residents from Hamirpur and Una are driving to Kangra.

Aman Solomon, Facility Director, Fortis, said, “We can cater to only 200 persons per day. These slots get booked within minutes of opening of the portal.”

Agitated at the poor state of affairs, residents have demanded that more private centres should start the facility. Sources say procuring vaccine directly from manufacturers is proving to be a challenge for private players.

Nipun Jindal, Mission Director, National Health Mission, said, “Any private hospital having the required infrastructure can offer vaccination provided they procure the doses on their own. Of 19 private centres registered on the CoWIN portal, only two have so far started the facility.”