Gujarat and Punjab uncertain about next phase of vaccination
The Gujarat government on Thursday said the process to vaccinate people against COVID-19 for the 18 to 45 age group will begin once it gets a substantial number of vaccines. Similarly, Punjab's Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said, "The vaccination drive for all above 18 years in Punjab may get delayed as the state does not have enough doses of the anti-coronavirus vaccine."
Gujarat government has placed an order for 1.5 crore doses
In a statement, the Gujarat health department said, "The process of registration for the age group of 18 to 45 has begun on CoWin portal from Wednesday as per Centre's announcement." "The state government had on April 25 placed an order for 1 crore doses of Covishield vaccines from Serum Institute of India and 50 lakh doses of COVAXIN," it said.
Maharashtra has already declared a delay in next phase
However, the vaccination drive, in Gujarat, for those above 45 years will continue. For those above 45 years of age, the Centre is procuring vaccines from pharma companies and providing them to states. On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government had said that it would not be able to launch the 18-45 age group vaccination drive from May 1 due to the shortage of vaccines.
Punjab needs minimum 10 lakh doses to start the vaccination
The Punjab government had placed an order for 30 lakh Covishield doses with the SII for the vaccination of the 18-45 age group. "On Wednesday, we got two lakh doses and prior to that day, we received 1.50 lakh doses. If we get at least 10 lakh doses of the vaccine, then we can start this program," Sidhu said.
Punjab suspended vaccination at various centers
Punjab had earlier also complained of shortage of vaccine for the 45 plus category and had urged the Centre to give 15 lakh doses a week. Due to a shortage of the vaccine, the state government even had to suspend the vaccination drive at several centers. Punjab on Wednesday had reported 142 deaths, pushing the toll to 8,772. The infection tally stood at 3,58,186.
Delhi has also flagged vaccine shortage for next phase
Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain has also said the city does not have sufficient doses of vaccine for the inoculation of those in the 18-44 age group and orders have been placed with manufacturers. "At present, we don't have vaccines. We have requested the companies to provide them," Jain said when asked if there were enough vaccines available for this age group.
