Vaccination for 18-45 years in Karnataka will not start on May 1

Health Minister Dr Sudhakar confirmed on April 30 COVID-19 vaccination for the age group of 18-45 will not begin from May 1 in the state of Karnataka as announced earlier.

He asked those aged between 18 to 45to register on the Co-Win portal and wait for the government to inform them once new stocks arrive. 

“We have made orders to Serum Institute in Pune for over one crore doses but the official news is that they are still not prepared to give it to us from tomorrow as scheduled,” the Minister told reporters here.

He asked people who have enrolled themselves on the Cowin portal for inoculation to refrain from going to vaccination centres on May 1.

So far the Government of India has supplied 99.40 lakh doses of vaccine to the state and 93.50 lakh doses have been administered. Around 5.9 lakh doses are available,” Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said in a statement.

The state government is procuring 1 crore doses of vaccine. Work order has been placed to procure one crore additional doses of vaccine. The fourth phase of vaccination drive will be taken up in stages.

“We have already paid Rs 400 crore to purchase one crore doses of Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India in Pune,” the Minister said.