Vaccination for 18-45 years will not begin on May 1

NEW DELHI/ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: People between the ages of 18 and 45 still have to wait for the COVID vaccination. More than thirteen states, including Kerala, have made it clear that the vaccination announced by the central government for this age group cannot start on Saturday.

The third phase of vaccination suffered a setback after the vaccine shortage worsened in several states. Moreover, the Centre's condition that free vaccine provided to the states should be given only to those above 45 years of age also led to the delay of the third phase.

While many people who have received the first dose are waiting for the second dose of the COVID vaccine, the states haven't received the required amount of free vaccine from the Centre. Although many states have ordered to buy the vaccines directly. the manufacturers of Covishield and Covaxin have asked them to wait.

With this, the states announced that those aged 18-45 who have registered for the third phase of vaccination will not have to reach the vaccination centers for the time being.

Apart from Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab have informed that the third phase of vaccination will not begin on May 1 due to a shortage of vaccine.

More than 2.45 crore people have registered for the third phase. In Kerala, registration cannot be completed.

19.81 lakh doses in possession of Centre

• 19,81,110 doses in the possession of the Central Government
• One crore doses remaining in the possession of the states
• There are not enough second doses for those over 45

Those waiting to receive second dose

• 1 lakh health workers
• 57 lakh frontline fighters
• More than 48 lakh people belonging to the 45- 60 year age group.
• Over 4 crore people over 60 years of age