NEW DELHI: With only limited doses available in the capital, Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Sunday directed all private hospitals and nursing homes to ensure that only those in the 18-44 years age group eligible for a second dose were administered Covaxin.
At the government vaccination centres where Covaxin is being administered, the health and family welfare department of Delhi government had already given similar directions on Thursday.
The restrictions apply through June or till further orders.
At the Delhi government’s vaccination centres, free doses of Covaxin for those aged 45 years or more are also being given to only those eligible for a second dose.
While presenting the vaccination bulletin on Sunday, AAP MLA Atishi said that there were 5.8 lakh vaccine doses available for the 45-plus category, including 5.6 lakh doses of Covishield and 21,850 of Covaxin.
Atishi said the idea was to ensure that those who had got the first dose of Covaxin a month ago could get their second dose on time.
“Covishield is being made available all over Delhi for above 45 years,” she said, adding that there was no vaccination for Delhi’s youth between 18 and 44 years for two weeks now and it would take at least five days for the vaccines for this category to arrive.
“It is time for the youth in Delhi to get a second dose.
Now, many youngsters are going to Meerut-Bulandshahr, 100 to 200 km away for vaccination because vaccines are not available in Delhi,” she said, urging the Centre to provide sufficient vaccines for the youth.
“Vaccines administered at expensive rates are beyond the reach of a lot of young people in Delhi.
However, they are forced to get vaccinated at prices as high as Rs1,500,” she said.
She said so far 56.5 lakh people have been vaccinated in Delhi, including 12.8 lakh people who have been given both doses of the vaccine.
She said that Delhi government is making full preparations to deal with a likely third wave, but vaccination is the only way to avoid the third wave.
Atishi said that it is the central government that decides how much vaccine should be given to which state and private hospitals and then the vaccine manufacturers supply it to the states.