As the Covid-19 vaccination for all those above 45 began on Thursday, health experts have called for inoculating every adult above 18 citing studies that the new Covid variants are more threatening to younger people.
However, the Government is presently more keen on vaccinating those 45 years since this age group is reporting high mortalities.
“Those above 45 years are considered to be at highest risk -- 90 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in India have been in the category of those above the age of 45.
“This step has been taken after detailed deliberations with the states and Union Territories on March 31 to optimally utilise all COVID-19 Vaccination Centres across the public and private sectors to ensure rapid increase in the pace and coverage of Covid vaccination,” the Union Health Ministry said.
“This decision is in line with the graded and pro-active approach employed by the government of India along with the states and UTs for Covid-19 vaccination,” it said in a statement.
However, health experts feel that it’s time to cover the entire population as the country is witnessing the second wave. “Today we’ve got a crisis upon us with infections and deaths registering new high every passing day. We should vaccinate the entire adult population and provide them with a walk-in option to get the jab at any vaccination centre. Our vaccination pace is not so impressive given the huge population we have,” said Dr Rahul Bhargava, senior hematologist from Fortis Hospital, Gurugram.
He agreed with AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria’s view that more kids and younger people are getting infected during the second wave as compared to the first wave reported in August and November last year. The morbidity and mortality due to the deadly virus is higher in elderly people.
“At a time when the Government has itself warned that the situation is going from bad to worse, our efforts should be to scale up vaccination pace and cover maximum people. Those interested should be given the shot so that wastage is avoided while ensuring that a good number of people are safe,” added Dr RK Dhamija, neurosurgeon (HoD of Neurosurgery) Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, Delhi.
According to the official data of the Health Ministry, a total of 6,51,17,896 citizens have been vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus infection so far. In Delhi, 12,65,652 people have been vaccinated of which 10,14,199 people have got their first dose, while 2,51,453 people got the second dose.
Since January 16, more than 6.5 crore vaccine doses have been administered across the country so far to frontline workers, healthcare workers, those above 60 and for people aged above 45 with specified co-co-morbid conditions.