According to Atishi, the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) MLA from Kalkaji, the Capital received fresh stocks of Covid-19 vaccines for those aged 18 to 45 on Wednesday, as the city administration reopened bookings on the Co-WIN portal for all its inoculation centres a day after closing over half of them due to a shortage of doses.
Atishi, who presented the day’s vaccination bulletin, said Delhi was in good shape in terms of vaccine stock. Covaxin doses for the 18-45 age group are available for six days, and Covishield vaccines are available for 11 days, according to her. Covaxin doses for those aged 45 and up will last seven days, while Covishield supplies will last 42 days.
On Tuesday, nearly half of the vaccination centres for people aged 18 to 45 were closed due to a shortage of vaccines. As of Wednesday, Delhi had 161 operational centres for people aged 18 to 45 and 581 for people aged 45 and up.
“We have received 62,160 doses of Covaxin and 173,340 doses of Covishield. Till date, we have received a total of 1.27 million doses for young adults… Starting today (Wednesday), slots are available on the Co-WIN portal for the 18-45 age group as well,” she said.
Due to a shortage of doses, the Delhi government has been unable to carry out its vaccination drive at the planned pace, according to Atishi. “Vaccinating children is the only way to eliminate vaccine apprehension. “When the youth go to get vaccinated, they will bring their families with them,” she explained.
Senior government officials expressed optimism that supplies would stabilise once the federal government began providing free doses to all states and territories on June 21. “However, there is still a lack of clarity. We have not received any indication of when or in what quantity we will receive the free doses for the 18-45 age group,” said a state government official who did not want to be identified.
The Center already provides free vaccines to all states for those aged 45 and up, while private hospitals charge for vaccines for all age groups.
