Amid shortage of Covid-19 vaccine doses, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday said the third phase of the inoculation drive that would cover people in the 18-45 age group would not begin from May 1 in the Union Territory.
The new date would be announced once vaccine supply was established, it said.
Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo said the union territory expected to receive vaccines by May 20.
Up to 4,000 centres to be set up
3,000 to 4,000 vaccination centres will be set up for vax drive
Vaccination of those over 45 years to continue normally
UT preparing to vaccinate around 65 lakh people in the 18-45 age group from next month
The third phase of the vaccination drive is set to roll out across the country from May 1. However, many states have said they would be unable to do so due to the shortage of vaccine doses.
“While the registration for vaccination of eligible persons in the age group 18-45 has been opened, the actual vaccination will not begin from May 1. It will begin from a date to be announced later once the vaccine supply is established,” the Department of Information and Public Relations said on Twitter.
The administration, however, said the vaccination of those over 45 years would continue normally.
It said the Union Territory had ordered 1.24 crore doses of vaccine, among the highest in the country, to cover the entire population in the 18-45 age group.
“We have placed orders for supply of vaccines to undertake free vaccination of people in the 18-45 age group. We expect to get the vaccines by May 20,” Dulloo said.
He said 3,000 to 4,000 vaccination centres would be set up to ensure that there is no rush during the vaccination drive. — PTI