Coronavirus in India Live News: Covaxin by Bharat BiotechCoronavirus India News Live, Covid-19 Cases in India State-Wise Live Updates: With an aim to cover the maximum number of people under the ongoing vaccination drive, one of the largest in the world, against Coronavirus, India on Wednesday opened registration for a larger and younger population group — all citizens above 18 years of age. As many as 1.33 crore people have signed up for the third phase of the vaccination drive.
In the 18-44 age group, India has 59.46 crore people. Covering them all in a single phase is a herculean task. Many states are already complaining of vaccine shortages just ahead of the beginning of the third phase of vaccination on May 1. Reports suggested those above 18 years were struggled to get a slot for vaccination. Most hospitals in states including Gujarat, Chandigarh, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Assam displayed unavailability of slots for those under 45 years of age. According to reports, the 18 plus age group in the worst-hit state of Maharashtra will have to wait till May-end for a vaccine. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “Schedule after procurement plan is drawn up.” In Delhi, the phase 3 vaccination drive is unlikely to start in a big way, while the affair is likely to be a ceremonial one in Uttar Pradesh. Chhattisgarh, one of the worst affected states, has vaccine supply till July-end. Telangana is facing a shortage of vaccine supply. States like Odisha, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Andhra may not begin the drive on May 1.
Revised guidelines for home isolation of mild COVID-19 cases
The health ministry on Thursday issued the “Revised guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 cases”, in which it advised against attempting to procure or administer Remdesivir injections at home, underlining that it should be administered only in a hospital setting. The guidelines stated that systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild cases and if the symptoms (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.) persist beyond seven days, the treating doctor should be consulted for treatment with low-dose oral steroids.
Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung or liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc. shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, it added. In case of falling oxygen saturation levels or shortness of breath, the person should require hospital admission and seek immediate consultation with the treating physician or surveillance team. Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung or liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc. shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer. According to the revised guidelines, the patients may perform warm-water gargles or take steam inhalation twice a day. “If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose of tab. Paracetamol 650 mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor, who may consider advising other drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (ex: tab. Naproxen 250 mg twice a day). “Tab. Ivermectin (200 mcg/kg once a day, to be taken on empty stomach) for 3 to 5 days should be considered,” the guidelines stated.
Inhalational Budesonide (given via inhalers with spacer at a dose of 800 mcg twice daily for five to seven days) to be given if the symptoms (fever and/or cough) persist beyond five days, they added. The decision to administer Remdesivir or any other investigational therapy must be taken by a medical professional and it should be administered only in a hospital setting, the ministry said. “Do not attempt to procure or administer Remdesivir at home. Systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild disease. If symptoms persist beyond seven days (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.), consult the treating doctor for treatment with low-dose oral steroids,” the guidelines said. The revised guidelines stated that the asymptomatic cases are laboratory-confirmed cases that are not experiencing any symptoms and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94 per cent, while the mild cases are patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms (and/or fever) without shortness of breath and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94 per cent.
Those patients eligible for home isolation should be clinically assigned as mild or asymptomatic case by the treating medical officer and they should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and quarantining the family contacts. The caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis in accordance with the protocol and as prescribed. The patients must isolate themselves from the other family members, stay in the identified room and away from others, especially elderly people and those with co-morbid conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renal disease etc. The patients should be kept in well-ventilated rooms with cross-ventilation, the windows should be kept open to allow fresh air to come in and should at all times use a triple-layer medical mask, the guidelines read. “The mask should be discarded after eight hours of use or earlier if they become wet or visibly soiled. In the event of the caregiver entering the room, both the caregiver and the patient may consider using the N95 mask. “The masks should be discarded only after disinfecting it with one per cent sodium hypochlorite,” the guidelines stated.
A caregiver should be available to provide care on a 24×7 basis. A communication link between the caregiver and the hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation. Patients suffering from an immune compromised status (HIV positive, transplant recipients, cancer therapy etc.) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation, the guidelines read. It advised the patients to take rest and drink lot of fluids to maintain adequate hydration, follow respiratory etiquettes at all times, not share personal items with others. “Ensure cleaning of surfaces in the room that are touched often (tabletops, doorknobs, handles etc.) with a one-per cent hypochlorite solution. Self-monitoring of blood oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter is strongly advised,” the guidelines stated. According to the guidelines, the patients must be in communication with a treating physician and promptly report to the latter in case of any deterioration. They should continue the medications for other comorbidities after consulting the treating physician. Patients under home isolation will stand discharged after at least 10 days have passed from the onset of the symptoms (or from the date of sampling for asymptomatic cases) and no fever for three days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over, the document stated.
According to the Union Health Ministry data on Thursday, India saw a record single-day surge of 3,79,257 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 1,83,76,524, while active cases crossed the 30-lakh mark. The death toll increased to 2,04,832 with a record 3,645 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
In the meanwhile, Goa will go under four-day strict lockdown from today as Covid-19 cases spike in the state. The Madhya Pradesh government has also extended the ‘Corona curfew’ till May 7. Curfew and weekend lockdown has been imposed in Mohali.
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Highlights
Uttar Pradesh reports 35,156 fresh COVID-19 cases, 25,613 discharges, and 298 deaths in last 24 hours
Active cases: 3,09,237Total discharges: 8,96,477Death toll: 12,238 (ANI)
In this COVID19 wave, the peak occurred early, we did not get time to act to delay the peak. There are many reasons for this including the Assembly elections. We had anticipated a spike in daily cases and doubled our ICU beds, ventilators etc.: Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja (ANI)
Karnataka records 35,024 fresh COVID cases (19,637 in Bengaluru), 14,142 recoveries, and 270 deaths in the last 24 hours
Active cases: 3,49,496Total recoveries: 11,10,025Death toll: 15,306 (ANI)
As India battles a devastating second wave of coronavirus pandemic, countries around the world have announced sending medical supplies to help it tide over the situation. The leading countries that have announced assistance to India include the US, Russia, France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait and Mauritius. Around 40 nations across the world announced medical supplies like oxygen concentrators and related parts and assistance to help India deal with the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated many parts of the country. | VIEW GALLERY
Covaxin to be available to state govts at a price of Rs 400 per dose, says Bharat Biotech. | Read More
In an effort to help India deal with the second wave of COVID-19, in the early hours of April 29, two special flights of the Russian EMERCOM have successfully delivered humanitarian aid from Russia. These special flights carried around 22 tonnes of medical supplies which included 20 oxygen production units, 75 ventilators, and 200,000 packs of medicines. | Read More
Forecasting that the COVID-19 pandemic is only going to get worse, noted surgeon Dr Devi Prasad Shetty has said India will need an extra 5 lakh ICU beds, 2 lakh nurses and 1.5 lakh doctors in the next few weeks, and also suggested radical solutions to meet the mountainous challenge. At present, India has only 75,000 to 90,000 ICU beds and almost all are already occupied - when the second wave of the pandemic hasn't even reached its peak yet, he said. India is reporting about 3.5 lakh cases a day, and some experts say the number could go up to 5 lakh cases daily at its peak. (PTI)
The Congress is indulging in "spit-and-run" politics instead of giving constructive suggestions and extending support to the government in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Union Minister Rattan Lal Kataria has said. The opposition party has been critical of the Centre's response to the second COVID-19 wave that has put huge pressure on the public health system, with hospitals in several states reeling under a shortage of oxygen, beds, medicines and equipment. The Centre is doing its best to deal with the situation caused by sharp surge in coronavirus cases, the Union minister of state for jal shakti and social justice and empowerment told reporters on Wednesday. (PTI)
The central govt has increased our oxygen quota & that will come from Odisha. A train containing 5 tankers departed for Odisha yesterday. Today morning, we've sent 2 tankers by air. One container that departed earlier has already arrived today: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar (ANI)
Keeping in view COVID-19 situation, all teachers, shikshamitra, instructors of Basic Shiksha Parishad and teachers of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya will be allowed to work from home till May 20: Primary Education Minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi (ANI)
Lt. Governor has sought a report from the Delhi Chief Secretary on the preparedness for the roll-out of the vaccination program for people above 18 yrs of age: Lieutenant Governor Secretariat, Delhi (ANI)
In nine days, the demand for medical oxygen has increased 67% to April 24, as per information collated from oxygen allocation orders that were issued by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry. It further shows the demand for life-saving gas has spread from 12 states on April 15 to as many as 22 states on April 24. According to an IE report, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had written to the Principal Secretaries/Additional Secretaries/Secretaries (Health) of 12 states on April 15 informing them about the allocation of oxygen against their demand for the week starting April 20. These 12 states are Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. | Read More
COVID-19 - Himachal Pradesh Govt has decided to impose a complete ban on community feast (dham) during marriages & other celebrations in the state. All educational institutions & temples would remain closed till May 10: State Govt (ANI)
West Bengal Health Secretary writes to Director General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Kolkata over the maintenance of law and order at COVID19 vaccination Centres (ANI)
Beverage maker Coca Cola India on Thursday committed Rs 50 crore funds towards facilitating COVID-19 vaccination, providing safety kits among others, that will benefit 10 lakh people. "As efforts accelerate nationwide to provide relief from the devastation of the second wave of the coronavirus, Coca-Cola in India has committed Rs 50 crore to augment the nation's effort in combating the crisis and containing the spread of the pandemic," the company said in a statement. The initial contribution of Rs 50 crore is towards facilitating COVID vaccination, providing safety kits, creating awareness, and distributing beverages to the country's front line, to positively impact over 10 lakh Indians, it said. To stand in support of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has created a special "Stop the Spread" fund worldwide. This fund will be channelised towards facilitating vaccine distribution, COVID safety kits (PPE - masks, gloves, sanitizer) and creating awareness around vaccination and sanitary practices to contain the spread of pandemic, it added. (PTI)
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was on Thursday discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here. He was admitted to the facility after testing positive for COVID-19. Sources close to the Congress leader said he was doing fine. Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on April 19 after he had fever and tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection. (PTI)
Lucknow Haj House to be converted into COVID Care Center. "We'll try to make this facility fully operational in next 7-10 days. Oxygen generation plant will be installed here and for back-up jumbo cylinders will also be arranged. We are increasing number of beds rapidly and treating patients according to COVID protocol. With the combined effort of state govt and HAL, we're creating 255 beds L2, L3 hospital including 25 ventilators, more than 100 HFNCs and with all other modern facilities": Lucknow DM (ANI)
Delhi Lt Governor seeks report from chief secretary on preparedness for COVID vaccination drive for people above 18 years of age: L-G office (PTI)
Amid the shortage of medical oxygen for treating COVID-19 patients, the IIT Bombay has come up with an ingenious solution to help address the issue by converting a nitrogen unit into an oxygen generating unit, the institute said on Thursday. The pilot project, which has been tested successfully, relies on a simple technological intervention of converting a Pressure Swing Adsorption nitrogen unit into a PSA oxygen unit, according to an official statement. | Read More
Ministers of Karnataka have unanimously decided to contribute their one year's salary for COVID relief work in the state. "We the ministers in Karnataka have decided to donate one year of our salary for COVID relief work," state Revenue Minister R Ashoka said here on Thursday. Ashoka was briefing reporters about Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's meeting with the district officials to review COVID management and enforcement of lockdown. The Minister said 230 acres of land across the state have been reserved for cremation purposes and accordingly, the Deputy Commissioners have handed over land to the Tehsildars. (PTI)
The health ministry on Thursday issued the "Revised guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 cases", in which it advised against attempting to procure or administer Remdesivir injections at home, underlining that it should be administered only in a hospital setting. The guidelines stated that systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild cases and if the symptoms (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.) persist beyond seven days, the treating doctor should be consulted for treatment with low-dose oral steroids.
Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung or liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc. shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, it added. In case of falling oxygen saturation levels or shortness of breath, the person should require hospital admission and seek immediate consultation with the treating physician or surveillance team. Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung or liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc. shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.
According to the revised guidelines, the patients may perform warm-water gargles or take steam inhalation twice a day. "If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose of tab. Paracetamol 650 mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor, who may consider advising other drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (ex: tab. Naproxen 250 mg twice a day). "Tab. Ivermectin (200 mcg/kg once a day, to be taken on empty stomach) for 3 to 5 days should be considered," the guidelines stated. Inhalational Budesonide (given via inhalers with spacer at a dose of 800 mcg twice daily for five to seven days) to be given if the symptoms (fever and/or cough) persist beyond five days, they added. The decision to administer Remdesivir or any other investigational therapy must be taken by a medical professional and it should be administered only in a hospital setting, the ministry said.
"Do not attempt to procure or administer Remdesivir at home. Systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild disease. If symptoms persist beyond seven days (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.), consult the treating doctor for treatment with low-dose oral steroids," the guidelines said. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu government extended night curfew and complete lockdown on Sundays until further orders. All cinemas/multiplexes/theatres, gyms, recreation clubs, bars, auditoriums, meeting halls, and other similar places shall remain closed until further orders: Tamil Nadu government (ANI)
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Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said the city 'does not have vaccines' for the inoculation of persons in the 18-44 age group and purchase orders have been placed with manufacturers for the same. The minister, however, said preparations to give jabs to this category have been completed. 'At present, we don't have vaccines. We have requested the companies to provide it,' Jain told reporters when asked if there were enough vaccines available for the 18-44 age group. 'We will tell you in a day or two,' he replied to another query about starting the inoculation drive for this category on May 1. He also said that the manufactures are yet to provide a schedule of vaccine supply to the Delhi government. | Read More
ICICI Bank on Thursday said it is "much better" prepared to restrict the impact of the second coronavirus wave on its operations because of last year's experience but appealed for banks' employees to be allowed to take vaccinations on a priority basis as they are rendering an essential service. The second largest lender warned that if banking services were to fail, it can have an adverse impact on the economic activity, and hence it is pertinent for ensuring that at least the branch staff is allowed to take vaccinations. The comments come at a time when localised lockdowns are being announced across many pockets of the country in view of the rising COVID infections, which are breaching the 3 lakh mark daily and also resulting in over 2,000 officially counted deaths. "We are an essential services we are all exposed (to customers). We don't have the luxury. But we are not allowed vaccinations, not allowed to board trains, not allowed to board buses. So, what kind of essential services we are? More push should be there," its executive director Anup Bagchi told reporters. (PTI)
Left parties on Thursday attacked the government over the handling of the COVID-19 situation, saying it has failed to provide oxygen and beds, and termed the pandemic the worst calamity since the 1943 Bengal famine in terms of human lives lost. They also alleged that the implementation of the inoculation drive against COVID-19 has been "callous" and the Centre is encouraging "duopoly" to let two vaccine companies earn "super profits". India, according to Union health ministry data updated on Thursday, recorded a single-day rise of 3,79,257 cases and 3,645 fatalities. "It (COVID-19 pandemic) is the worst calamity in terms of human lives lost since the Bengal famine of 1943 when around three million people died due to hunger, malnutrition and disease...," according to an editorial in the Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) mouthpiece Peoples Democracy. The COVID-19 death toll in the country stands at 2,04,832, the data showed. "In the current pandemic, disregarding the grossly underestimated official tally, at least a million have died and the toll continues to mount. This figure, however, is a conservative estimate, multiplying by five, the two lakh dead officially declared," the editorial in the latest issue of the Peoples Democracy said. "It will not require any historical research to pin the responsibility for this catastrophe on (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi and his government," it said. The editorial said that the tragedy unfolding in the country is of "epic proportions". (PTI)
Fertiliser cooperative IFFCO on Thursday said its fourth oxygen plant being set up at Paradeep (Odisha) will commence operation by June 15 and will provide the free supply to hospitals in the state and adjoining areas. IFFCO is setting up a total of four oxygen plants in India at the cost of about Rs 30 crore. About 610 cubic meters per hour of oxygen will be produced from these four plants. Two plants being set up in Uttar Pradesh and one plant in Gujarat will commence by May 30. In a statement, IFFCO said the cooperative has placed an order for setting up a 4th oxygen plant in Paradeep, Odisha. The capacity of this new oxygen plant would be 150 cubic meters per hour. "The plant will commence by June 15," IFFCO Managing Director and CEO U S Awasthi tweeted separately. (PTI)
Maharashtra's daily COVID-19 vaccination figure has dropped by 1.5 lakh amid the current shortage of vaccine doses, an official said on Thursday. The state's overall inoculation count currently stands at over 1.55 crore, he said. As per the data released on Thursday, the state had inoculated 3,88,247 persons on Tuesday, while it could administer 2,37,700 vaccine doses on Wednesday. The daily vaccination count has witnessed a drop of 1,50,547 due to limited supply of vaccine doses, the data revealed. With this, the state's cumulative vaccination figure reached 1,55,94,640, it said. (PTI)
Twenty-two more people died due to COVID-19 in Himachal Pradesh, taking the fatality count to 1,429 on Thursday, while 1,096 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 94,985, a senior official said. According to Special Health Secretary Nipun Jindal, there are 16,041 active cases in the state. As many as 1,109 coronavirus patients have recuperated from the infection in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries in the state to 77,444, he said. (PTI)
The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday decided to float global tenders to purchase four to five crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine. The state has already announced free vaccination for people above 18 years of age. "The state government has decided to float global tenders for carrying the vaccination drive effectively. Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have been given orders of 50 lakh vaccine doses each. A global tender should also be floated to purchase four to five crore vaccine doses. This should be taken forward," Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was quoted as saying in a statement. (PTI)
Amid the shortage of medical oxygen for treating COVID-19 patients, the IIT Bombay has come up with an ingenious solution to help address the issue by converting a nitrogen unit into an oxygen generating unit, the institute said on Thursday. The pilot project, which has been tested successfully, relies on a simple technological intervention of converting a Pressure Swing Adsorption nitrogen unit into a PSA oxygen unit, according to an official statement. It claimed that initial tests conducted at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have shown "promising results". (PTI)
BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde on Thursday said she has tested positive for coronavirus and is in isolation. Taking to Twitter, the BJP's national secretary said, "I have tested positive for coronavirus. I have already isolated myself and taking precautions. I met so many people and families of corona victims, I must have caught there." Munde further appealed to people who came in contact with her to get themselves tested. (PTI)
The head of the World Health Organization says more than 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered globally but 82 per cent of them were given in high- and upper-middle-income countries. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says just 0.3 per cent of all vaccines administered so far were given to people in low-income countries. "That's the reality," Tedros told an online health conference hosted by Portugal on Thursday. He said access to vaccines "is one of the defining challenges of the pandemic" and that public health is "the foundation of social, economic and political stability." (AP)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday promised to do the utmost in supporting India’s fight against the COVID-19 surge and said that anti-pandemic materials produced in China were entering India at a faster pace. In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Wang said that the Chinese side “shares empathy for the challenges facing India and expresses sincere sympathy”. READ MORE
The month of April has been very cruel for Punjab. The number of COVID-19 cases and critically ill patients has doubled in the state during April as compared to March. While the Level 1 beds in hospitals remain unoccupied, there is a steady stream of covid positive patients in need of oxygen as well as ventilator support. As per week-on-week comparison, there has been an increase of 150 per cent in the number of covid patients on ventilators in the previous two weeks. From April 22 to April 28, a total of 90 patients were placed on ventilators as compared to 36 patients between April 15 and April 21, according to an IE report. READ MORE
Bangladesh on Thursday said it stands in solidarity with its close neighbour India at this "critical moment" and offered to send emergency medicines and medical equipment supplies to the country to combat the massive surge in the coronavirus cases. The supplies include about 10,000 vials of injectable anti-viral, oral anti-viral, 30,000 PPE kits and several thousand zinc, calcium, vitamin C and other necessary tablets, Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement. It said "Bangladesh stands in solidarity with its close neighbour India at this critical moment and Dhaka is ready to provide and mobilise support in every possible way to save lives in there." (PTI)
The Cricket Association of Bengal will inoculate COVID-19 vaccine to its committee members, staff and the groundsmen at Eden Gardens on Friday ahead of hosting the IPL matches in Kolkata from May 9. The state government has accorded its permission to the application made by CAB and AMRI Hospitals after proper evaluation process, including a site visit as it hopes to give the first jab to everyone at CAB in the 45-plus age group. "The site has been found to be suitable for conduct of vaccination with all necessary HR and logistical support from AMRI Hospitals Ltd," joint secretary, urban development and municipal affairs department Joly Chaudhuri said in a letter to the CAB. "COVID-19 vaccine is our best defence against this virus at the moment." (PTI)
In support of the Lakshadweep administration's fight against COVID-19, the Southern Naval Command of Indian Navy has extended the facilities at Naval Air Station, INS Garuda for the air evacuation of a 75-year- old COVID patient from the island of Kalpeni to Kochi for treatment, a Defence spokesman said here on Thursday. The patient, also suffering from fracture (neck of femur), was ferried by a Pawan Hans helicopter of the Island administration and admitted to INHS Sanjivani(Naval Hospital) immediately upon arrival on Wednesday, he said. "The patient is being provided medical care as agreed upon by the Southern Naval Command, based on a request from the UTL Administration. The Naval Hospital has reserved 10 beds for patients from the Lakshadweep Administration," he said in a release. (PTI)
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, its Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said on Thursday. The inoculation drive for those between 18 and 45 years of age was scheduled to start from May 1. "We are not getting adequate doses of vaccines. That is why we are facing problems. We have staff and required infrastructure for vaccination," Sidhu said addressing the media. Asked whether the state health authorities will be able to start the vaccination drive for the 18 plus age group from May 1, the minister said, "I feel that we may not start by that time." The state government had placed an order for 30 lakh Covishield doses with the Serum institute of India for vaccination of the 18-45 age group. (PTI)
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The Gujarat government on Thursday said the process to vaccinate people against COVID-19 in 18 to 45 age group will begin once it gets substantial number of vaccines from pharmaceutical companies, triggering speculation whether the state would miss the May 1 launch date of the inoculation drive meant for this category. However, the registration process for vaccination of people in this age group has begun in the state. On Sunday, the state government had announced that starting May 1, it would provide free of cost COVID-19 vaccines to those between 18 and 45 years of age. In a statement issued on Thursday, the state health department said, 'The process of registration for the age group of 18 to 45 has begun on CoWin portal from Wednesday as per the announcement of the central government.' For this phase, the state-run and private hospitals have to directly procure vaccines from pharma companies, it said. 'The vaccination process will start once the state receives substantial numbers of vaccine doses from pharma companies,' the statement said, indicating that the state has not yet received any doses directly from the pharma companies even as only two days are remaining for the launch of the drive. (PTI)