Team Herald
PANJIM: The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has informed the State government that the Covishield doses, available for the age group of 18-44 years, will last for another maximum eight days, based on response to the vaccination drive, which will continue till May 22.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The second round of appointment slot for vaccine jab for 18-44 years will open at 12 noon on Tuesday. Beneficiaries can book their slot for four days from May 19-22.
Addressing the media persons, State Immunisation Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said that till Sunday, around 6,306 doses of Covishield have been administered on the said age group. “The vaccination drive was affected on Sunday due to Cyclone Tauktae,” he said.
Dr Borkar said that the State had received total 32,780 doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India (SII) for vaccinating adults from 18-44 years. “We have around eight-day doses left. This depends upon the response. We have already informed the government about the same. If the doses are available, the drive will be extended after May 22,” he said.
Dr Borkar said that the Health Department is yet to receive any communication from the government as by when the next doses would arrive.
The State government had last month placed order for five lakh vaccine with SII. The first round of vaccination for the adults is from May 15-18.
Dr Borkar said that the second round will commence from May 19 for four days. “The registration of slots will start from Tuesday at 12 noon, across 35 centres,” he said while urging youth to come forward to get vaccinated.
Meanwhile, The doctor informed that following directions from the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, the gap between the first and second dose is increased from six weeks to 12 weeks.
“Hence, all those, whose second doses are due in six weeks, are kindly requested to take note and come in 12 weeks,” he said.
As on date, total 2,39,922 beneficiaries have got their first dose while 95,150 are fully vaccinated. State has used total 4,30,152 doses of Covishield since January 16.
