Just three months after it rolled out its first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations, India hit another grim milestone on 7 April as it registered over 1lakh 15 thousand fresh cases of COVID-19. However, several states are reportedly staring at another point of concern- a COVID vaccine shortage. 

At least six states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odhisha, Telangana, and Maharashtra have reported shortages of the Covidshield vaccine, which is one of two COVID vaccines approved by the Ministry of Health. 

The hardest-hit state-Maharashtra-has vaccine stocks only for 3 days according to state health minister Rajesh Tope. The reported shortage of vaccines has also resulted in COVID hotspots, such as Pune to shut over 100 vaccination centers. Mr Tope further stated that he has requested the Centre for additional vaccines. 

However, the Centre has hit back on Maharashtra’s SOS on vaccines. In an interview with NDTV on 7 April, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan slammed what he called "deplorable attempts by some state governments to distract attention from their failures and spread panic among the people” and that they are no vaccine shortages in India.

Now, there are obvious contradictory statements. So, what is the ground reality in the affected states? Tune in!

‘We Called 12 Hospitals in Ghaziabad, They’ve Run Out of Vaccines’

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram

Dr Varsha Dange, Medical Officer, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and Dr Subhash Salunkhe, Technical Advisor on COVID-19 to Maharashtra government.

Editor: Shelly Walia

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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