The vaccination drive for those 18 years and above began on a dull note in India on Saturday amid a shortage of vaccines in the country.
This comes after the Centre on April 19 announced a 'liberalised' policy to ramp up the coronavirus vaccination drive in the country and made all above 18 years of age eligible to get vaccinated from May 1.
However, some states have flagged the shortage of vaccines and expressed their inability to start vaccination of people above 18 years from today.
Here's all you need to know about the coronavirus vaccination drive Phase 3 -
As per the health ministry, more than 2.45 crore beneficiaries registered themselves on CoWin portal till 9.30 pm on Friday.
Due to the delay in procurement of vaccines leading to a shortage, several states have said they won't be able to kick off the drive today.
A total of 11,492 beneficiaries were vaccinated until 6 pm in Maharashtra, the state's health department. In Mumbai, 1,000 people in the 18-44 group inoculated in Mumbai on the first day of the phase 3 vaccination drive.
In Delhi, while the vaccination drive could not begin on Saturday, CM Kejriwal said the city has received 4.5 lakh vaccines and will begin inoculating people in the 18-44 age group from Monday.
Chhattisgarh vaccinated 1,693 persons in 16 districts till 7 pm under the 18-44 age group.
The Odisha government ran a symbolic vaccination drive for the 18-44 age group in Bhubneshwar, inoculating 96 people.
States that have Delayed vaccinating 18+ :
Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy said that there appears a huge gap between demand and supply of vaccines in the country and it would not be possible to provide vaccination for those aged between 18 and 44 years beginning May 1, and hence they will have to wait at least till August or September.
Telangana has stopped the vaccination drive for two days (May 1 and 2) at government centres even for people aged 45 years and above because of a vaccine shortage.
Karnataka health minister Dr K Sudhakar yesterday urged the people of the state aged between 18-44 years to "refrain from going to hospitals" on Saturday, saying that the state has not received the required Covid-19 vaccine doses from the Serum Institute of India (SII).
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has asked people in the 18 to 45 age group not to visit vaccination centres on Saturday as the government is yet to receive a new lot of vaccines. He said that the government will inform well in advance as to when the vaccination drive will commence for this age group and the procedure for registration thereon.
Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed on Twitter that the Centre had committed to providing five lakh vaccine doses for the 18-44 age group. However, considering the uncertainty about the date of arrival of the first consignment of vaccines, it is unlikely that the drive would start on May 1 as scheduled earlier.
West Bengal government on Friday said the vaccination drive for those between 18 to 44 years of age will begin as and when the state receives the vaccine doses. It added that vaccination of those above 45 years will continue.
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan said The vaccination drive against Covid-19 for people aged 18 to 45 will be not be beginning from May 1 as vaccines are not available. The chief minister said the state government had spoken to both the country's Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers - Serum Institue of India and Bharat Biotech and were informed that they would not be able to provide doses of the vaccine.
So what do you think about this Approach, previous reports have told that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have topped the Vaccine Wastage list, instead of Waiting for 45+ persons to walk in, Should AP open a Vaccine Drive for all Ages? Do let us know in the Comments Below!
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