This is an archive article published on May 2, 2021
Nearly 16.5 lakh Covid jabs on day 1, but only 84,000 to 18-44-yr-olds
The third phase of vaccination incorporates two major changes. First, the Centre will procure 50 per cent of doses from manufacturers to distribute to states to vaccinate – for free at government centres – healthcare and frontline workers, and those above the age of 45.
At a hospital in Panchsheel Park, New Delhi, on Saturday, as vaccinations opened up for those above 18. (Photo: Praveen Khanna)
Only 84,599 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received their first dose on Saturday as India opened vaccination against Covid-19 to every citizen above the age of 18 years.
A total 16,48,192 doses were administered on day 1 of phase 3 of the vaccination programme, according to data released by the government.
“…9,89,700 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 6,58,492 beneficiaries received 2nd dose of the vaccine as per the provisional report. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight,” the Health Ministry said.
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The third phase of vaccination incorporates two major changes. First, the Centre will procure 50 per cent of doses from manufacturers to distribute to states to vaccinate – for free at government centres – healthcare and frontline workers, and those above the age of 45.
Second, states and the private sector will have to procure exclusively from the 50 per cent basket available in the open market to vaccinate 18-44-year-olds.
The Centre said on Saturday that 79,13,518 doses were still available with states, and another 17,31,110 doses would be received by them within the next three days.
The 17 lakh additional doses will go to six states: Bihar (4 lakh doses), Uttar Pradesh (3.5 lakh), Haryana (3 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (2.8 lakh), Rajasthan (2 lakh), and Goa (1 lakh). Jammu & Kashmir will also receive 1 lakh doses.
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The Centre will allocate its share of 50 per cent to the states based on the extent of infection (number of active Covid cases) and performance (speed of administration of vaccine).
On Saturday, the Centre released the quantity of doses allowed to states for the next fortnight. According to the new formula of distribution, eight states will receive more than 10 lakh doses for the first fortnight of May, the data show.
Maharashtra has been allotted 17.5 lakh doses of Covishield and 5.76 lakh doses of Covaxin; UP will get 13.49 lakh doses of Covishield and 4.11 lakh doses of Covaxin; Rajasthan, 12.92 lakh Covishield and 4.42 lakh Covaxin; Gujarat, 12.48 lakh Covishield and 4.11 lakh Covaxin; Karnataka, 10.05 lakh Covishield and 3.31 lakh Covaxin; West Bengal, 9.95 lakh Covishield and 3.27 lakh Covaxin; Madhya Pradesh, 8.71 lakh Covishield and 2.87 lakh Covaxin; Bihar, 7.64 lakh Covishield and 2.52 lakh Covaxin.
The cumulative number of vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 15,66,37,825, the Ministry said.
Kaunain Sheriff M is an award-winning investigative journalist and the National Health Editor at The Indian Express. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, an investigation into one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical companies.
With over a decade of experience, Kaunain brings deep expertise in three areas of investigative journalism: law, health, and data. He currently leads The Indian Express newsroom’s in-depth coverage of health.
His work has earned some of the most prestigious honours in journalism, including the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Award, and the Mumbai Press Club’s Red Ink Award.
Kaunain has also collaborated on major global investigations. He was part of the Implant Files project with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which exposed malpractices in the medical device industry across the world. He also contributed to an international investigation that uncovered how a Chinese big-data firm was monitoring thousands of prominent Indian individuals and institutions in real time.
Over the years, he has reported on several high-profile criminal trials, including the Hashimpura massacre, the 2G spectrum scam, and the coal block allocation case. Within The Indian Express, he has been honoured three times with the Indian Express Excellence Award for his investigations—on the anti-Sikh riots, the Vyapam exam scam, and the abuse of the National Security Act in Uttar Pradesh. ... Read More
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