In first 11 days, less than 25 lakh aged 18-44 got the jab

MUMBAI: Eleven days since the Centre allowed states to vaccinate their 18-44-year-old population, fewer than 25 lakh have got the shot across the country. Grappling with a vaccine shortage, some states like Kerala haven’t started the drive, while others have been forced to improvise.
Maharashtra, the worst-affected state, has opened phase III for its younger population with limited doses and restricted them to those who can book a slot on CoWin. Till May 9, the state has given 4.4 lakh shots.
A few other states like Rajasthan and Gujarat, which are towards the top of the leader board, have adopted a more conservative approach by first vaccinating high burden districts. Karnataka started phase III on a small scale from Tuesday.
Gujarat is prioritising the 18-44 drive in seven municipal corporation areas of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar and Gandhinagar, and the three districts of Mehsana, Kutch, and Bharuch. CM Vijay Rupani said the selection was based on high Covid incidence at these places.
The state has vaccinated 3.09 lakh persons in the last 10 days. Rajasthan, too, initially restricted the drive to 16 of its 33 districts, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur, among others. R K Saran, a district official, said this was the modus operandi for the first seven days as doses were limited; they opened it to the entire state from May 8. To ensure equity, they have allowed 50% walk-ins at rural areas. The state has vaccinated over 4.2 lakh till May 10.
Vaccination expert Dr Naveen Thacker, who was India’s representative to Gavi (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation), said Gujarat and Rajasthan’s approach seemed more practical in the light of rising cases and vaccine shortage. “Spreading the doses thin across the state may yield little in terms of reducing deaths or severity,” he said.
The abrupt decentralisation of vaccine procurement that left states and private centres high and dry has been widely criticised, but Thacker said at least, the states were free to try their own strategies now.
Karnataka, which had planned to begin phase III from Monday, could start only from Tuesday for want of doses.