PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the State government has sought the Centre’s permission to transfer COVID-19 vaccines allocated for 45 years and above and administer these to age group of 18-44.
Sawant said the government has decided to give priority to lactating mothers who have children below the age of two and those with co-morbidities in the 18 to 44 age group, once the COVID-19 vaccines are available for this age group.
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According to Sawant, as of now only 6000 vaccine doses are available with the State for administering to the 18-44 age group. Goa is expecting a second lot of 36,000 vaccine doses in the first week of June. Spot registration will also commence for this age group once vaccines are available, he said adding that if permission is granted by the Centre, then the government will use vaccines allocated in the first phase for 45 years and above to age group of 18-44 years.
However, the target is to achieve 100 per cent vaccination of people aged 45 years and above during Tika Utsav 2.0 starting from Wednesday, he said after which the government will focus on vaccinating people in the 18-44 age group.
Sawant announced that the government is planning to switch to walk-in registration for the 18-44 age group for vaccination as opposed to the present online registration.
Asked to comment about the vaccines, given the poor response to the Maharashtra government, that had also issued global tenders, he said Goa is following what is happening in other States with respect to the overall vaccination process and that Goa is planning to now start walk-in registrations for the 18-44 age group, thereby opening up the process and not limiting only to the online process.
The Chief Minister said this would mean it is a first-come first-serve basis and that the government is waiting for the Centre’s permission on this.
Responding to queries about concerns about Goans getting vaccines in Goa, he said switching to walk-in registrations could address such concerns and that the question of online bookings for Goans getting over won’t arise. He added that the focus of the vaccination programme amongst the 18-44 age group is co-morbid persons and parents such as lactating mothers.
