NHM Strike Hits Immunisation Services; Vaccine Stocks Run Dry

Immunisation services at several Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) in Nizamabad district have been disrupted by the strike observed by National Health Mission (NHM) employees, with vaccine shortages leaving infants, nursing mothers and pregnant women in distress.

Vaccination sessions scheduled for Wednesdays and Saturdays have been affected, with several health centres reportedly running out of essential vaccines, including RVV, IPV and OPV.

ANMs and pharmacists are responsible for maintaining vaccine stocks and ensuring their availability, under the supervision of medical officers and other health officials. However, their continued absence due to the strike has disrupted the supply and administration of vaccines.

Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, B. Devika of Bodhan said she took her 45-day-old baby to the government hospital for vaccination but was sent back without the vaccine.

“The staff are on strike, and there is no vaccine. They asked us to leave,” she said, expressing concern over the consequences of missing the scheduled vaccination.

At the Gautam Nagar urban health centre, supervisor Pushpa said only eight of the 33 people who visited the facility on Saturday could be vaccinated.

Although district officials have maintained that regular ANMs, staff nurses and supervisors are overseeing immunisation, the ground situation suggests that vaccine availability remains a major hurdle. Medical officers were also reportedly unavailable at some facilities during the morning hours.