Expect 36,580 doses for 18-44 group next week, Goa government tells HC

PANAJI: The state government on Friday told the high court of Bombay at Goa that it is expecting 36,580 doses next week for the 18-44 age group. It also said that it was not possible to procure vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna due to storage difficulties.
Although there is a stockpile of 2.5 lakh doses available for the 45+ age group, people are not coming forward to take the jab, the state told the bench.
Advocate general Devidas Pangam said that people initially had doubts, but started coming forward after the second wave, when a sort of urgency is being felt.
Pangam stated that the government has started special drives for the 45+ age group, which has received a good response. He added that the government is formulating a plan for vaccination and will announce it after a week. The government has identified certain frontline workers, he said.
Regarding the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, Pangam told the court that they require to be stored at -80 degrees C and -20 degrees Celsius, compared to Covishield and Covaxin, which can be stored at a temperature of 2-8 degrees C.
The court asked the government to submit a timeline by which it would receive vaccines for the 18-44 age group. It also asked the government whether it is communicating its requirement and commitment to the Centre.
At the last hearing, the court suggested that the government announce a date by which the 45+ should get vaccinated, failing which the vaccines for this category could be diverted for the 18-44 age group.