Sun, Jan 28, 2024
Sun, Jan 28, 2024
ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS Constrained over unavailability of COVID-19 vaccines, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to launch a nominal vaccination programme for the 18-44 age bracket population from May 5.
Just about 1.48 lakh persons in the age group will be able to get the much awaited jab in three-phases scattered over 11 days till May 15. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that the vaccination schedule has been finalised keeping in mind the availability of 1.5 lakh doses of vaccines.
According to the schedule, 10,400 doses will be administered in 104 sessions on May 5 and 6, another 41,600 doses in 416 sessions on May 8 and 10, and 96,000 doses in 960 sessions on May 13 and 15.
The Madhya Pradesh government had deferred the vaccination programme of the 18-44 age group scheduled from May 1 because of unavailability of vaccine doses. About 77,000 persons in the age group had registered for a single date of May 1 on the vaccine portal. However, as of now, the government is promising to vaccinate just about 1.48 lakh people by May 15.
The chief minister said that about 5.29 crores doses are required to cover the population in the 18-44 age bracket. An order for 4.76 crore doses of Covishield vaccine has been placed with Serum Institute and order for 52.25 lakh doses of Covaxin has been placed with Bharat Biotech, Chouhan said.
“We are constantly making efforts to ensure that both the companies provide the vaccine doses at the earliest to the state, but neither of them is able to confirm as to when these doses could be delivered. Therefore, we have finalised a schedule of as per availability of 1.5 doses as of now,” Chouhan said.
He said that the vaccination for the 18-44 age group will be further taken up as availability of more vaccine doses is expected by May 15.
The CM reiterated that the vaccine will be free for all and that the vaccination programme for the 45+ age group will continue as per schedule.
MP Congress chief and ex-chief minister Kamal Nath has attacked the government over the nominal and scattered schedule of vaccination for the 18-44 age group. “The vaccination schedule is surprising and raises many questions. Vaccination, which should be conducted every day at the fastest rate, will be held on different dates and in limited numbers. Going by the released schedule, it will take months to cover the population. This is a big injustice with people and amounts to their betrayal,” Nath tweeted.
He added that on one hand hospital beds, proper treatment, oxygen, injections, life-saving drugs are unavailable and on the other even the preventive vaccine is not available. “Who is responsible and accountable for this situation. Tell us by when the citizens of the state will be vaccinated? When will be the necessary vaccine doses available?” Nath questioned.
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