Noida, Ghaziabad to open slots for 18-44 yrs

ABOUT 7,000 DOSES FOR EACH DAY OF THE DRIVE HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED FOR GB NAGAR AND ABOUT 6,700 DOSES PER DAY FOR GHAZIABAD

Slot for Covid-19 vaccinations for the 18-44 years age group will open Sunday morning for Covid-19 vaccinations from Monday to Saturday, in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

According to state officials, about 7,000 doses for each day of the drive have been dispatched for the next week for GB Nagar and about 6,700 doses per day for Ghaziabad.

“The stock has been sent to the vaccine store at Meerut, from where both GB Nagar and Ghaziabad

will procure stock. Last week, we sent about 3,000-3,500 doses per day. But now, the stock is almost doubled. It contains both Covishield and Covaxin doses,” said Dr Ajay Ghai, Uttar Pradesh immunisation officer.

Dr Deepak Ohri, chief medical officer of GB Nagar, said that the district already has 17,000-18,000 doses available.

“More stock will come from Meerut. At present we have no shortage of vaccines and regular supplies are coming in from Meerut. For the upcoming week, we will create sessions and slots will open for online registration from Sunday morning,” Dr Ohri said.

Dr Vishram Singh, the district immunisation officer of Ghaziabad, said more sessions will be created.

“Thereafter, slot booking process can start for the upcoming week from the morning of May 16. We have received about 35,000 doses from Meerut and about 25,000 more are expected to arrive for other age groups as well,” he added.

The drive for the 18-44 years category started in Ghaziabad and GB Nagar on May 10. According to the Cowin portal, all slots at the 17 vaccination centres in Ghaziabad were fully booked till May 15 till press time, while one of these, a paid vaccination facility, was booked till May 31. Likewise in GB Nagar, all 16 free vaccination centres were fully booked till May 15, while one paid centre had slots booked till May 31 while another paid centre was booked till May 18.

“My friends in Delhi got their jabs but slots are are not available. However, I am regularly searching the Cowin portal to book a slot once they become available,” said Ayush Sinha, a 22-year-old resident of Gulmohar Enclave in Ghaziabad.

Youngsters in GB Nagar are facing a similar problem. “We have been trying to book a slot ever since the drive started, but without any success. Walk-ins are not allowed for our age group. So, we are stuck,” said Veronica Balyan, 24, a resident of Sector 121.