PremiumDelhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday stated all the 400 vaccination sites for the 18-44 age group have been closed in Delhi due to shortage of vaccines. He further noted vaccination centres administering Covaxin to the 45 age group, healthcare workers and frontline workers have also shut down due to shortage.
Pointing out that vaccination against coronavirus is the need of the hour, Sisodia said they have spoken to Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson for vaccines. "Pfizer and Moderna have refused to sell us directly saying they are talking to the Centre. The Centre has not approved Pfizer and Moderna whereas the world over they have been approved and bought by countries," he said.
Sisodia said some countries bought vaccines in advance while these were in trial stage but India did not take any step in that direction.
"I urge the Centre not to make this vaccination programme a joke. Approve Pfizer and Moderna on war footing, rather than asking states to approach these companies. It should not happen that by the time we get vaccines, the time comes that even the antibodies of those who have been vaccinated are finished and they will again require vaccination," he said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also urged the Centre to procure Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and distribute them to states. "We've spoken to Pfizer, Moderna for vaccines, and both the companies have refused to sell vaccines directly to us. They have said that they will deal with the Government of India alone. Appeal to the Centre to import vaccines and distribute to the states," Kejriwal said.
Delhi needs 80 lakh doses per month to vaccinate all in 3 months
Last week, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi noting that Delhi requires 80 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses per month to vaccinate the entire population within three months. He further mentioned that the national capital received just 16 lakh doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in May.
Reiterating his appeal to increase the quota of COVID-19 vaccine for the national capital, he had also requested the Centre to import COVID-19 vaccines at a national level instead of leaving it to the states to raise global tenders.
"Vaccination of the young population is halted from today because the doses that Centre has given us is over so the vaccination centres for young population will be closed," he said Saturday.
(With inputs from agencies)
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