India has been witnessing a huge spike in coronavirus cases. People are losing their lives because of a lack of beds, medical oxygen, and medical aid. Recently, India is also facing a severe shortage of Covid vaccine.
India had expanded the vaccination age group from above 45 to 18-44, but this expansion has now caused a shortage, said the chief of the centre’s Covid-19 working group.
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According to Dr NK Arora, chairman of the central panel, there is enough vaccine even for the first targeted age group. Dr Arora told, “Expanding the age group 18-44 there is no vaccine available, there is a shortage. I would say this expansion should have been deferred for a while.”
He further added, “Simply, prioritization was done sometime in September October last year. And it was very clear, as per the availability, that the immediate purpose of vaccination will be to reduce morbidity and mortality. And obviously, the highest-risk population is to be targeted.” “And even today, there is sufficient vaccine to take care of them till July, and 50-55 crore doses will be available for them”, he said.
He highlighted the fact that there is a vaccine shortage even abroad now.
“Many of us feel that vaccines will come if we put out tenders, but that is not correct. There is hardly any vaccine available globally because these are highly committed manufacturing, concerned by some of the high-income countries”, he concluded.
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Earlier this week, the Centre announced that it had hoped that more than 200 crore people would get vaccinated till December this year amid the criticism over mishandling of the vaccination plan.
The second wave of coronavirus began in February, has been accompanied by the slowdown of the vaccination plan. The Central Government has announced the third phase of the vaccination drive would commence from May 1, but due to its shortage, many state governments postponed the announced date.