Nagpur: Even as the Covid vaccination programme for health care workers will kick-start on Saturday, the central and state governments are yet to clear the schedule for the common man.
Divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar told TOI that there are no instructions in this regard. “We will implement whatever instructions come from the government,” he said.
Kumar said that the government has made it very clear that the vaccine will be first administered free of cost to health care workers followed by front line workers. “Government also announced vaccination for people above 50 years and below 50 years with comorbidities,” he said.
The centre had announced vaccination for front line workers — employees of civic bodies, state and central police forces etc — along with health care workers. But doses have been delivered only for 50% of health care workers registered from Vidarbha since November.
It is also not clear when doses for remaining health care workers will arrive.
Also, the government has restricted number of centres in each area. In Nagpur city, the NMC had planned 60 centres but vaccination has been permitted only at five. Vaccinating 50% health care workers will take longer than expected if centres are not increased. Also, these health care workers will have to given booster dose 28 days after the first shot.
The registration for front line workers is yet to be done. All departments are yet to finalize the list.
The government has announced schedule for pulse polio drive. It was supposed to kick-off on January 17 and end on January 22. But the drive was postponed following announcement of Covid-19 vaccination.
As per latest guidelines, pulse polio drive will start on January 31 and complete by February 6. During this drive, Covid-19 vaccination is not likely to happen.