Himachal to get 1.67L doses for 18-44 age group in June

Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 28

The vaccination drive in the 18-44 age group will not pick up pace anytime soon, at least not till the end of June. The state government will receive 1,67,180 doses of Covishield for June, even though there has been an enthusiastic response to vaccination in this age group, which consists of over 30 lakh people. In the four sessions held so far for this age-group, 80,119 persons have been vaccinated.

The state government was originally scheduled to get only 1,19,760 doses for the month of June but it requested the Centre for an enhanced supply following a tremendous response in this age group. “The Centre has enhanced the quota available for procurement by 47,420 doses. With this additional allocation, the vaccine doses available under direct procurement by the state for June shall be 1,67,180 doses,” said a government spokesperson.

Similarly, the doses meant for the 45-plus age category and the priority groups, too, have been enhanced. The state was to get 2,52,770 doses of Covishield, under free supply from the Government of India, for the first fortnight of June. “On the request of the state, however, the Centre has enhanced the quota of free vaccine supply by 46,630 doses. Under the revised allocation, the state will now get 2,99,400 doses of Covishield,” said the spokesperson.