Some States To Begin Covid Vaccination For 18-44 Years On May 1: Centre

Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said the states are coordinating with vaccine manufacturers for procuring the doses

Amid many states expressing their inability to start COVID-19 vaccination of those between 18 and 44 years from May 1 citing paucity of doses, the centre on Friday said some states, which have already coordinated with manufacturers, will kick off the drive on the designated date. It stressed that any new exercise takes time to pick up pace and this phase three of the vaccination drive too will stabilise over time. Several states, including Delhi, Odisha, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra and Punjab said they do not have adequate doses of vaccine to start vaccinating individuals in the 18-44 age group. Some states announced phase three of the immunisation drive in selected districts, while some announced vaccination for different age groups also such as those above 35 years.