Over 1 mn receive 2nd jab as Delhi stares at shortage
NEW DELHI: Over a million people in the national capital have so far been completely vaccinated against Covid-19 as on Friday, even as most governmentrun vaccine centres remained shut on the day on account of Eid-ul-fitr.
Government data shows that so far, Delhi has administered 4.37 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines. Of these, 1,006,672 were second doses, which means the recipients have completed their two-jab regimen of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, the city continued to run its inoculation programme for the 18-44 age group with only Covishield doses, with stocks of Covaxin running out on Tuesday. As on Friday, the Delhi government had 346,000 doses of vaccine -- all Covishield -- left for the 18-44 age group.
“Covaxin stock for the 18-44 years beneficiary group is over and the Covishield stock for this group should last another eight days. This has led to temporary suspension of around 140 vaccine centres. We have urged the central government to...ensure that Delhi gets supply of Covaxin at the earliest,” said AAP legislator Atishi, while reading out the Delhi government’s vaccine bulletin on Friday. The Capital will need a total of 30 million doses to inoculate its 15 million adult population, according to state government estimates.
Delhi is also staring at a shortage of vaccines for those aged 45 and above. “We have a stock of 225,110 doses for this age group. The Covaxin stock should last for three days, while Covishield for two. More doses are expected to arrive soon, especially Covishield,” said Atishi on Friday’s vaccine bulletin. There was no clarity on when the Covishield doses are likely to arrive.
India should float global vaccine tender: Jain
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain on Friday said India should float tenders for vaccines in the global market as one nation, reiterating a request made by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal a day earlier. “India is one nation, and one tender policy should be implemented, rather than a state-wise tender which will only create more confusion and heat between states which are going to procure vaccines,” said Jain in a separate press briefing. He also pushed for getting other private companies to manufacture the vaccine.