If You're In Any Of These 6 States You May Get COVID Vaccine From Today As Mass Rollout Begins
Amid a lot of confusion and complaints of shortages the doses, COVID-19 vaccine rollout for all adults in India officially kicked off on Saturday, May 1.
Though the Central government had recently revised the vaccine rollout process to include all above the age of 18 in the ambit of the inoculation drive it is mostly left to the states to find the vitals for it.
Lack of vaccines
Most of the states who were already struggling to get enough doses to vaccinate those above the age of 45 have said that they have no option but to delay the mass rollout until they are able to procure them from the vaccine makers.
Only six states - Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Odisha have officially launched the vaccines for those between 18-45.
But that too is only for limited numbers and in few places.
In Uttar Pradesh, the drive is being carried out in only seven of the total 75 districts, while it is three of the 33 districts in Rajasthan. In Gujarat, it is in 10 out of 33 districts.
Limited doses
In state like Maharashtra, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, though it is not limited to some districts, the number of doses allocated for the drive is limited.
Other states like Andhra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka have deferred the rollout by a few weeks or whenever they have the stock.
Delhi CM says not enough vaccines
In Delhi too, the situation is similar and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that the national capital does not have enough vaccines to administer them to all.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also appealed to residents of the national capital not to queue up at vaccination centres as vaccines have not yet been received.
"I request you to not queue up at the centres tomorrow (Saturday). As soon as the vaccines come, we will make proper announcements. Only then people with appointments can start coming to the centres," the Chief Minister had said.
However, some of the biggest private hospitals, including Apollo, Max and Fortis have launched vaccines for everyone above the age of 18, even in Delhi.
The Centre on April 19 had announced a ''liberalised'' policy, making all above 18 years of age eligible to get vaccinated from May 1. It has also allowed state governments and private hospitals to purchase vaccines from manufacturers.?
As per the revised rules, the Centre will receive 50 per cent of the vaccines supplied; states and private hospitals will get the remaining doses.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 2.45 crore beneficiaries register themselves on Co-WIN portal till 9.30 pm on Friday for the Phase III of the vaccination drive.
