Delhi flags vaccine shortage; MLA says jabs for 18-45 age group almost over

Atishi said that vaccination centers catering to people in 18-45 years age group will be shut down due to shortage.

hindusThe Delhi government flagged shortage in Covid-19 vaccine stocks on Tuesday saying that less than a day’s stock of Covid-19 vaccine is left for people in the 18-44 age group category. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Atishi said that due to the shortage of vaccines half of the vaccination centres closed down on Tuesday and the rest will close on Sunday if the stocks are not refilled.

A health worker inoculates a man with a dose of the Covishield vaccine against the Covid-19 coronavirus at a dedicated vaccination centre for international travellers, in New Delhi. (AFP)

Atishi also highlighted that over 50% of the population aged 45 years and over have been vaccinated, citing data from a vaccination bulletin published online on Tuesday.

“As we are slowly unlocking, offices and markets are reopening, hence young people will venture out more and it is important that they get vaccinated. The drive for vaccination of people above 18+ was picking pace but due to lack of doses it has slowed down again,’ Atishi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Atishi said that stocks will have to be replenished and urged the Centre to send more vaccines. She said that there are 795,000 doses available with the Delhi government for people above 45 years. Out of those 795,000 doses available, Covaxin doses will last for 22 days and Covishield doses for 43 days. The MLA also said that 6,150,931 doses have been administered till date in Delhi. There are currently 64 centres across 36 locations which vaccinate people in the 18-45 years age group.

Delhi’s Covid-19 health bulletin on Tuesday showed that 1.46 million people have been vaccinated fully. At least 4.68 million people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.