Delhi health dept predicts another year to innoculate eligible population
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A medic administers the dose of COVID-19 vaccine on a beneficiary
The Delhi health department on Friday informed the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) that it would take another year to vaccinate everyone over 18 in the national capital at the present rate of COVID-19 vaccine supply. The department officials were giving a presentation on the Delhi government's preparedness for a possible third wave of coronavirus and ongoing vaccination at a DDMA meeting held on Friday.
About 1.5 crore beneficiaries are eligible for covid vaccination in Delhi, and three crore doses are required to inoculate them fully. Till August 5, one crore doses have been administered. About half or 76 lakh beneficiaries have received the first dose. About two crore doses are still needed, of which a meagre 16.79 lakh doses have been allocated by the Centre for Delhi in August. To finish vaccinating its entire eligible population by December 2021, they would require at least 45 lakh doses per month.
Owing to vaccine shortage and a large number of beneficiaries awaiting their second dose, the Delhi health department had recently instructed district authorities to restrict 20 per cent doses of Covishield and 40 per cent doses of Covaxin for the first shot. As per data available on the CoWIN portal, 53.25 lakh doses have been administered to those in the 18-44 age group and 33 lakh doses to people in the 45-60 category.