Confusion & unavailability of online vaccination slot prevails across Assam

May 10: Since the launch of vaccination drive for those aged between 18 to 44 years in Assam, there were much grievance among the people for not being able to make online bookings. Many complained that there were no fixed time for online bookings for the jab and so people had to hook on to their mobile phones for hours together for booking their slot. Responding to a tweet on 9 May, Munindra Nath Ngatey, Director of Health Services (Family Welfare), Assam, wrote, “Ok from Monday onwards I will direct all the districts to fix a common time for booking of slots in all the districts of Assam.”  

Keeping his word, Munindra Nath Ngatey on 10 May tweeted, “Slot booking time will be open for all from 4 PM every evening. I have directed all the districts.” This meant that from 10 May onwards, online bookings for COVID-19 jabs across districts of Assam would be open at 4 PM. However, in reality, nothing of that sort happened on Monday. People were constantly waiting from 4 PM till the night, but in most of the districts of Assam, the online booking window was not opened.”

https://t.co/MHcXcG72I9

— NHM_Assam (@nhm_assam) May 10, 2021

A tweeter user after 5 PM on 10 May wrote, “please tell something. Will the slots open today? Because we’ve been glued to the phone for more than an hour now.” Many others also did similar tweets. Finally, at 11.16 PM on 10 May, Munindra Nath Ngatey, Director of Health Services (Family Welfare), Assam replied in a tweet, “Some issues were there for many districts which have been sorted out. It will be smooth within a few days. Have patience.”

Some issues were there for many districts which have been sorted out. It will be smooth within a few days. Have patience.

— Munindra Nath Ngatey (@nath_ngatey) May 10, 2021

Another tweeter user Anurag Debnath wrote, “Sir, please talk with the districts again, as no one seems to care about your orders. The kamrup(m) and kamrup(r) both opened slots at various times and none were even close to the speculated 4pm.” To this, Munindra Nath Ngatey tweeted, “Today Covaxin available in the stock of Kamrup(M) & Kamrup districts have been fully used. So it took time for both the districts to update the portal from Covaxin to Covishield, From tomorrow both the districts will get Covishield for the age group 18-44 years.”

This means, inspite the Director of Health Services (Family Welfare) Munindra Nath Ngatey said all the district officials have been directed to open slots for booking at 4 pm every evening, but in reality many of the districts faced the same issues like shortage of vaccines or other technical issues for which things were chaotic on 10 May and online booking facility could not be offered.

However, if one reads in between the lines of the tweet of the Director of Health Services (Family Welfare), Munindra Nath Ngatey (tweet at 11.16 PM on May 10, 2021), then it becomes evident that “some issues were there for many districts which have been sorted out.” But this does not automatically guarantee that the online booking site will be opened the next day (11 May). This is because Munindra Nath Ngatey in the 2nd line of his same tweet wrote, “It will be smooth within a few days. Have patience.”

That means those within the age group of 18 to 44 years in Assam and are waiting eagerly to book online a vaccine slot for them shall have to wait with patience for a few more days for the system to get more smooth! For further queries, the district wise Covid Vaccine control rooms can be contacted. Here are the contact numbers for the Covid Vaccine control rooms in the three districts of Barak Valley:

• Cachar: 03843 – 245727
• Karimganj: 94351-79713
• Hailakandi: 90850-81622, 03844 – 222953.