Few outlets in Thimphu ran out of the seasonal influenza vaccine after two weeks of its launch. However health officials said, no other district has reported a shortage of the vaccine. The flu vaccine for identified high-risk groups was introduced last year.
The outlet in the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) has been closed a few days back after the vaccine ran out of stock. According to the Health Ministry, change in prioritisation of high-risk group this year led to the shortage of the vaccine.
“During the estimation and procurement process, we have calculated only for five high-risk groups. So for those five high-risk groups, we have calculated and procured the vaccine accordingly. However, we have to slightly change our prioritisation given the current situation in the country because the COVID-19 risk is not equivalent across the country. There are some very high-risk areas in the country so our priority has to slightly change because we had to include those frontline workers,” said Sangay Phuntsho, a Sr. Programme Officer with the Health Ministry.
He said the number of people from the high-risk groups who came for the vaccine increased drastically this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he said the vaccine is still available in the Mother and Child Hospital above the JDWNRH that has been identified for pregnant women and children aged between six to 24 months.
Moreover, more than 400,000 doses of the vaccine will be imported in November for the vaccination of the remaining population where the left-outs from the high-risk group will be prioritised.
“We are trying to cater to all the high-risk group but given the situation and the number of the vaccine in the country, in case if anyone from the eligible group is being left out this time, we would like to request everyone to get the vaccine next month. We will prioritise the ones who have missed his time,” he added.
In the first phase, six high-risk groups are receiving the vaccine. The six high-risk groups are health workers, pregnant women, children aged between six to twenty-four months, the elderly population aged above 65 years, individuals with chronic medical conditions and front line workers in the high-risk areas. More than 95,000 doses of the vaccine were imported in the first phase.
Kinley Dem
