No Covaxin left for 18-44 years: Delhi health minister

NEW DELHI: Health minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said that the capital was facing an acute shortage of Covid-19 vaccine doses. While the stock of Covaxin for the 18-44 age group has finished, Covishield is available only for some more days, he stated in a press briefing.
Jain said that the government was compelled to temporarily shut down centres administering the vaccine.
Senior AAP functionary and MLA Atishi made a humble appeal to the central government to supply sufficient vaccines for those in the 18-44 age group and those above 45 as well while presenting the vaccination bulletin on Friday.
Atishi said that for those above 45 years of age, healthcare workers and frontline workers, Covaxin’s stock was left for three days and Covishield’s stock only for two days. While stock of Covaxin for those in the 18-44 age bracket has ended, Covishield’s stock is available for eight days. Nearly 44 lakh people have been vaccinated in Delhi so far, including 10 lakh who have received both the doses.
“We are hoping that the Centre will supply a sufficient stock of vaccines at the earliest. The deputy CM had informed yesterday that Bharat Biotech has refused to supply any new doses of Covaxin to us unless the Centre approves the supply,” she said, adding those who need the second shot of Covaxin cannot get inoculated due to unavailability of vaccines.
“The Centre has exported nearly 6.5 crore vaccines to various countries. Now, they are asking us to purchase them from international markets, which is quite strange and uncanny,” Jain said, reiterating that instead of different state governments floating separate global tenders for vaccines, there should be central procurement.
The Delhi government’s vaccination programme in government schools has been successful and it has been decided to open these centres for walk-in vaccinations of those above the age of 45 years too, said the minister. “People are hesitant to take the vaccine in hospitals and dispensaries. So, when we started the vaccination drive in schools for the 18-44 age group, we received a thunderous response,” he said, adding that the schools are spacious and airy with multiple rooms, where it is easier to follow social distancing and other protocols.
When asked about a report by Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation, which states that Delhi has been seeking to get alternative storage space in nearby states and excess liquid medical oxygen available with the capital is hampering smooth supply from manufacturers, Jain said, “We are not hoarding for storage. It is about consumption rate. The 700 metric tonnes we demanded was about what the private, state, and central government hospitals used. That demand has been reduced owing to the decrease in number of Covid-positive cases.”