Hyderabad: Hit by shortage of COVID-19 vaccine, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, may not be able to begin mass vaccination for those between 18 and 44 years old on June 1, official sources in both states said Thursday.
A senior health department official in Telangana said although the state government is in contact with vaccine manufacturers, there is no certainty about when the stock will be available for mass vaccination.
“There are no vaccination options. We are getting a vaccine where there is no vaccine available in the country. We are also in contact with the manufacturers,” Telangana, director of public health, G Srinivasa Rao told PTI said.
“We are looking for the vaccine. We need about four doses,” he said.
He said the vaccine manufacturers also could not insure the state government when they would be able to supply supplies.
The Center has determined the vaccines and therefore the state will have to set their requirements with the manufacturers, he added.
However, the official said that vaccination for people older than 45 years will continue as the doses are provided by the center.
According to a senior official in Andhra Pradesh, the vaccination may not start on May 1 in the state as planned due to the delay in obtaining vaccine from manufacturers.
The official said the state government had already written to the manufacturers to get the vaccine stock, but that it had yet to be confirmed, suggesting there could be delays for those in the 18-44 age group.
Amid an unprecedented increase in coronavirus in the country, the government has decided to allow everyone over the age of 18 to be vaccinated from 1 May.
Registration for vaccination for anyone aged 18-44 started on April 28 on the CoWIN platform and the Aarogya Setu app.
In an official statement from the office of Prime Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddys, it was said on Thursday that according to the availability of supplies and suitable people (18 to 44 years) in the country, the full vaccination process for them will only take place next January. year is completed.
Reddy called on people to maintain and observe hygiene COVID-19 protocols to stop the infection.
Source: The Siasat Daily