Chaotic scenes were witnessed at Gurudijhatia primary health centre in Athagarh block of Cuttack as a large crowd jostled for the COVID-19 vaccines on Monday.
According to sources, a large number of people had gathered at the PHC today morning to receive vaccine shots. The crowd scrambled to get the jab as there was short supply of the vaccine doses.
The people alleged that the situation occurred due to the mismanagement of the health centre authorities. While only 120 doses of vaccine were supplied to the health centre, hundreds of people turned up to get the jabs.
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The chaotic situation led to tension in the health centre premises. Police had to be deployed on the campus to control the situation.
Ramesh Chandra Singh, Medical Officer of Gurudijhatia health centre said, “Many eligible people in the age group of 18 to 44 are due for vaccine for a long time. We received 130 doses today. If the allocation of doses and the number of vaccinators are increased, the issue will be resolved.”
It can be mentioned here that unprecedented rush, chaotic scenes and stampede-like situation has become commonplace at vaccination centres across the State.
Earlier, several instances of tension at the inoculation centre due to heavy crowd had surfaced at different places. Beneficiaries were seen standing in long queues amid scorching heat to get the jabs. In some cases, they were also forced to return home disheartened after the stock dried up.