TS asks private vaccination centres to procure vaccine directly from manufacturers

Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao, the director of public health, while making the announcement, said private COVID vaccination centers shall be permitted to conduct vaccination for 45 years and above by 100 per cent pre-booking of slots on CoWIN portal.

Mr. Rao said vaccination shall not be conducted through onsite registrations or walk-ins. He said that as per the Central government policy, vaccination for those between 18-44 years shall be taken up in the due course of time and will be informed accordingly. "This is for strict compliance and stringent action will be initiated against any defaulters," he said.

Telangana has started the vaccination process for those who are 45 years and above at all government vaccination centers. The first and the second dose of vaccine shall be administered to all 45-year olds and above by 100 per cent prior registrations and booking of online slots on the CoWIN portal, the official said.

Beneficiaries can book slots at www.cowin.gov.in. The vaccine will be administered only to those who have registered online and have scheduled slots. No vaccine will be administered to walk-ins.

The vaccine that the state government received from the Centre will be given to government vaccination centres where it will be administered free of cost. Meanwhile, private vaccination centres will charge Rs. 1,200 for Covaxin and Rs. 600 for Covishield, excluding service charges. Earlier, the government had capped service charges at Rs. 100 for private centres but now they have the right to decide the service charges.

Telangana has administered 48,14,784 doses till 3 May. Of these, 41,77,399 are first dose and 6,37,85 are second dose.