COVID-19 vaccination unlikely to start on May 1: Punjab, Gujarat and Delhi govts

A medical worker inoculates a man with the Covaxin Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine. Pic/PTI

The governments of Punjab, Gujarat and Delhi on Thursday said the next phase of vaccination was unlikely to start on May 1 as they did not have enough anti-Coronavirus vaccine doses.

"We are not getting adequate doses of vaccines. That is why we are facing problems. We have staff and required infrastructure for vaccination," Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said, adding that Punjab may not start vaccinating 18-44 age group frim May 1.

The state government had placed an order for 30 lakh Covishield doses for vaccination of the 18-45 age group. "On Wednesday, we got 2 lakh doses and prior to that day, we received 1.50 lakh doses. But we do not have any intimation how much we are getting today and tomorrow. If we get at least 10 lakh doses of vaccine, then we can start this programme," Sidhu said.

The Gujarat government on Thursday said the process to vaccinate all adults will begin once it gets substantial number of vaccines from pharmaceutical companies, triggering speculation whether the state would miss the launch date. "The state government had on April 25 placed orders of 1 crore doses of Covishield vaccines and 50 lakh doses of Covaxin. Vaccination will start once the state receives substantial numbers of doses," the state health department said.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said the city does not have sufficient doses of vaccine for the inoculation of those in the 18-44 age group and orders have been placed with manufacturers for the same. The minister, however, said preparations to give jabs to this category have been completed.

New home isolation rules

The health ministry on Thursday issued "revised guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 cases", in which it advised against attempting to procure or administer remdesivir at home. Senior citizens and those with comorbidities shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer. Patients suffering from an immune compromised status (HIV positive, transplant recipients, cancer therapy, etc,) are not recommended for home isolation.

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