Dikhyaa Mohanty 
During the ‘Tika Ustav’ in Odisha people took the jams at the session’s sites but with the increasing number of cases the Odisha Government had shut down 900 centres due to the shortage of vaccines.
According to the report around 81,169 people have taken jabs at 593 session sites during the opening day of the ‘Tika Ustav’. But at the same time, the state government had to shut down centres due to the shortage of vaccines triggering a blame game between the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP.
On April 10 the state had inoculated around 1,13,566 citizens and then the number falls down to 81,169 due to the non-availability of the vaccines. The report further states that Odisha would be able to operate only 775 session sites on 12th April with the remaining vaccines that are available.
But as per the senior official, they are not sure whether the state can continue the vaccinations in the remaining days which are 13th and 14th April of the Tika Ustav.
Bijay Panigrahi, Director of Family Welfare Bijay Panigrahi informed that over 1400 session sites are generally held for inoculation of health workers, frontline workers, senior citizens, and people above 45 years, about 900 centres remained closed due to the non-availability of the vaccine doses.
But in a video conferencing the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was held on 8th April and discussed the vaccine shortage. CM Patnaik also stated that Odisha is at present vaccinating 2.5 lakh persons per day and can ramp up it further.
The States Health & Family Welfare minister N K Das and Additional Chief Secretary, H&FW P K Mohapatra had written separate letters to the centre seeking more vaccines for smooth conduct of inoculation during the four-day Tika Ustav. But, the government had to close down about 900 centres due to a shortage of vaccines on the first day of the Tika Ustav.
Panigrahi stated that on the launch of the four-day ‘Tika Utsav’ from April 11 to April 14, the purpose of the vaccination festival is to ensure zero wastage of vaccines and motivate people to get inoculated.
According to the officials, Odisha has 1,59,439 Covisheild and 71,010 Covaxine left for running 775 session sites on April 12.
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