The much awaited vaccination drive covering people aged between 18-44 years amid the growing and highly contagious second wave of Covid 19 pandemic is likely to start from May 15. The upcoming vaccination drive of the Covid 19 was scheduled to commence from May 1, but the drive was postponed due to shortage of vaccines.
The State has identified 1.57 crore people between the age group of 18 and 44 for the upcoming phase and for this the state government has already set up 2,229 centres where vaccines will be administered to people.
According to official sources, the Jharkhand government has ordered 25 lakh doses each from the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech. As the State Government is expecting to get the three lakh doses of vaccines soon, Jharkhand will start vaccination of youth between 18 and 44 years.
Meanwhile, the state government has issued directives to all district commissioners to make preparations for vaccination drive. Instructions have been issued to chiefs and the panchayat secretaries as well, so that the vaccination in the rural areas can run smoothly.
Health Minister Banna Gupta too had stated that the state government has made all preparations for the vaccination drive. He said, “As many as 2,229 vaccination centres are also ready. A purchase order of 25 lakh doses for each of the vaccines has also been placed. We have requested the Centre to make sure that Jharkhand gets vaccines in time so that we can start the drive at the earliest.”
Meanwhile, as the vaccination drive is to commence from May 15, various centres too are making arrangements for running the vaccination drive smoothly. At Indian Medical Association (IMA) which presently has one hall for vaccination has decided to set up three halls for vaccinations. Dr Ashok Kumar Mishra of IMA said, “Presently we are having one hall for vaccination where people in the age group of 45 above are administered vaccines. But once vaccination above 18 years is started there will be a crowd.”
“The IMA has decided to set up two extra halls where people in the age group of 18 to 35 years, a second hall where people in the age group of 35 to 60 years will be given doses. The third hall will be for doctors, senior citizens and media personnel where they will be given doses. The aim is to lessen the crowd at vaccination centres,” he added.
Like Jharkhand many states have not started the vaccination of people in the age group of 18 above years due to shortage of vaccines. The vaccination above 18 years will be done only after registration.
The registration for the 18 above has started from 28 April on the government's online Co-WIN portal and its Aarogya Setu app. Sources said that on the first day itself around 80 lakh people registered for vaccines.