THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state has requested five lakh COVID vaccines from centre in the first phase. The state government has also demanded that Covishield be made available in the first phase. The state has asked centre to give priority to the distribution of vaccine as the number of COVID patients is high in Kerala.

The vaccine will be first given to more than 3.5 lakh health workers, medical students and Asha-Anganawadi workers. The aged people have also been included. The state has so far requested five lakh dose vaccines in the first phase.

The state informed centre that in Kerala where the incidence of lifestyle diseases is high, it is possible to reduce the mortality rate and delay the spread of the disease through scientific means and warned that the transmission of the disease will increase in the present situation. Kerala has informed centre that the vaccine is essential for controlling the disease in Kerala which has the highest number of patients per day and test positivity rate.

Meantime, the centre has not clarified its position on how the vaccine will be distributed. All facilities for storage and distribution of vaccine are available in Kerala.