New Delhi: Under the third phase of corona vaccination, the government has allowed all citizens above the age of 18 to get vaccinated from May 1, but many states are uncertain about the availability of vaccine. States like Maharashtra and Delhi have said that they do not have sufficient number of doses.
‘Vaccination in Mumbai for the new age group will be started only when enough vaccines are available, not on 1 May.’ Additional Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has given this information in the tweet.
He reiterated that vaccinations will continue for 45+ people. He wrote in the tweet, ‘All senior citizens in Mumbai are urged not to rush to the vaccination center or to be in a long line. There is a shortage in supply of vaccine and it is not available in sufficient quantity at all places, but beware, all 45+ people will get vaccinated. ‘
On the other hand, the Delhi government says that it is waiting for the fresh supply of vaccine from the producer company. State Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “We do not have vaccine yet, the company has been requested for this, we will let you know when they come.”
Tamil Nadu has ordered 1.5 crore doses, but sources said that the state government is in a state of uncertainty about starting vaccination for the age group of 18 to 45 from Saturday. Sources said, ‘One company said that we do not have supplies till June. We are not sure that the vaccination campaign will start across the country from May 1.
At the same time, Punjab has also said that it cannot start a new round of vaccination right now. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh said, “We can start vaccination only if we get up to 10 lakh doses”.
Rajasthan is also facing a shortage of vaccine. State Health Minister Raghu Sharma said that vaccine manufacturers have said that they will not be able to supply before 15 May. He said that we do not have vaccine in storage. We need seven crore vaccines for 18+ vaccination but we should get it on time.
The online registration for the third phase of vaccination started from Wednesday and after initial technical difficulties one crore 30 lakh people have registered for vaccine.