Arunachal Pradesh: Vaccination withheld for citizens under 44 years

ITANAGAR:

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has temporarily withheld vaccination for citizens under 44, as the Health Department is yet to receive COVID-19 vaccines from the manufacturer, sources said on Thursday.

According to health officials, the priority group that includes health care and frontline workers and those over 45 years will be given vaccination as usual.

Health Minister Alo Libang said that the state would not roll out vaccination for citizens under 44 years on May 1, as the state does not have the required stock of COVID-19 vaccines.

“We will have to wait, as we are yet to hear from the vaccine manufacturer,” he said.

The Health Department had placed an order for 4.5 lakh vaccines to the Serum Institute of India, the manufacturers of Covishield vaccines.

“We have also asked for the account number to pay advance money. But we are yet to get a response,” Libang said.

The state currently has stock for priority groups, including frontline workers, central and state health care workers, armed forces and citizens over 45 as the Centre had provided 4,45,870 doses.

Sources state that Arunachal is also running short of Remdisivir - an anti-viral drug prescribed for COVID-19 patients.

(Edited by Ridhika Joshi)

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