Covid-19: Vaccine shortage hits Telangana, govt puts off inoculation for two days
Telangana health department on Friday said there will be no Covid-19 vaccination on May 1 and 2 at any government-run facility due to non-availability of jabs.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 1 May 2021 3:48 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Telangana health department on Friday said there will be no Covid-19 vaccination on May 1 and 2 at any government-run facility due to non-availability of jabs.
Director for Public Health G. Srinivasa Rao said instructions have been given to vaccine stores to stop issuing jabs to private hospitals from Friday afternoon.
Instructions were also issued to all district medical and health officers to stop distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to private vaccination centers, and reclaim unused dosages
Private vaccination centers were asked to utilize available stock till Friday and return unused doses, if any, to the government. A total of 46,08,675 doses have been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers, and priority age groups of above 45 years till Thursday.
Meanwhile, vaccination, for people in the age group of 18 to 44 will start from Saturday onwards at the Apollo Hospital
It would be among the first private hospitals to start vaccination in the third phase after the central government decided to inoculate all citizens above the age of 18 from May 1.
As per the government guidelines, the vaccines will be administered to eligible individuals who have registered on the CoWIN app and made an appointment for the vaccine jab at Apollo Hospital.
The vaccination programme would begin with limited quantities. It shall be ramped up in coming weeks. The vaccines would be priced as per the guidelines issued by the central government.
"The government's decision to open up the vaccination program and permit private hospitals to procure vaccines directly from the manufacturers is a much-required step to counter the Covid-19 threat. The success of the government and private sector working together in the area of testing for Covid-19 played a major role in the country's success in controlling the spread of the vaccine last year. Similarly, this step will empower the private sector to use its extensive experience in supporting vaccination programmes. It will give a major boost to the pace of vaccination and put the programme on the fast track as we move forward to immunize large population," said Shobana Kamineni, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group.
