The Uddhav Thackeray and B.S. Yeddyurappa led Maharashtra and Karnataka governments, respectively, halted the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination drive for individuals between 18 to 44 years old temporarily. The decision was taken due to the shortage of the two India made vaccines.
Maharashtra:
On the 11th of May, the Maharashtra Government, ruled by the Shiv Sena, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) decided to halt the inoculation of the vaccination to people between 18-44 years old. The decision was taken due to the crunch in the vaccines supply from the Central Government, amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.
Karnataka:
The Karnataka Health Department released an official notification regarding the same. The notice read, “Today (the 12th of May) the State government has decided that the vaccine procured directly by the state for vaccination of persons between 18 to 44 years will be utilised for vaccination of beneficiaries who are due for second dose.”
The decision to do so was taken to prioritise COVID-19 injections for the beneficiaries of second dose and people above 45 years old. Recently, the Central Government also asked state governments to give the second doses of COVID-19 vaccination to beneficiaries.
The temporary suspension of the Wuhan Virus vaccine to those below 45 years of age, are set to begin from the 14th of May until further notice.
The announced arrangement would be applicable to all state run vaccination centres in Karnataka.
Besides Maharashtra and Karnataka, states like Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Telangana, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh also paused the vaccination drive for people aged 18 years to 44 years.
India is administering the two India made vaccines, one is the Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactured Covisheild and one is the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Private Limited manufactured COVAXIN.
Meanwhile, till date, close to 17.4 crore people were given the COVID-19 vaccination doses. Of the total vaccinated people, 3.73 crore people took both the shots of COVID-19 vaccines.
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