The government’s advisory body on the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), had only recommended vaccination for those over 45 years old, as this demographic accounts for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths. Those under the age of 45 were not included in the “priority category.”
“A sufficient supply of the vaccine is available for those over the age of 45. “The original plan was to vaccinate those over 45 years old, and those under 45 years old were not a priority category,” he explained.
“The country’s top priority should be people aged 45 and up. In the second wave, the proportion of hospitalizations and deaths is similar to the first wave. We must look after them; vaccination must be given to them so that the health system is not burdened,” he added. According to sources familiar with the situation, the decision to open vaccination to people aged 18 to 44 was “political” rather than “technical.”
“No expert group recommended to the government to open up vaccination to those under 45 years before priority groups were fully vaccinated. The decision appears to be political as there was a lot of pressure from the states to include this age group,” said one of these sources.
In the wake of vaccine shortages, India expanded its vaccination programme on May 1, making citizens over the age of 18 eligible for vaccinations. While the Centre provides doses for those over the age of 45, states are responsible for procuring vaccines for those between the ages of 18 and 45. States have been experiencing shortages, particularly among people aged 18 to 44.
According to AAP MLA Atishi, Delhi’s Covishield stock for the 18-44 age group will last two days, after which vaccination for this group will be halted.
She said that Delhi will have to temporarily shut down nearly 35 centres administering Covishield — the vaccine from Serum Insititute — to the 18-44 age cohort from Friday. Delhi’s stock of Covaxin is over.
Last week, Maharashtra decided to use the Covaxin doses it had purchased for the 18-45 age group to administer a second vaccination to those aged 45 and up. On May 12, the state Cabinet decided, on the advice of an expert panel, to put the vaccination of people aged 18 to 45 on hold for the time being.
Covaxin and Covishield doses purchased for people aged 18 to 45 will now be used to administer a second dose to people over 45. Maharashtra’s health minister, Rajesh Tope, said, “We are giving priority to the second dose of persons over 45 years, and once enough doses are available, we will restart vaccination for those over 18 years.”
Vaccination for people aged 18 to 45 will be suspended in Karnataka from May 14 until further notice, according to the state government.
