States start prioritising second Covid vaccine shot for 45+, first jab slots being rescheduled

Most states have started to cancel and reschedule appointments for the first vaccination dose this week so as to prioritise those due for the second jab in 45-plus age group. This is in line with the Centre’s protocol that 70% of its vaccine supplies must be used for completing the second dose.
Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh are among the states which have rescheduled appointments for the first time vaccine beneficiaries. “This is being done to prioritise the second shots so that the vaccination protocol is complete for the 45-plus age group,” an Andhra Pradesh government spokesperson told ET. This exercise first entails calculating how many second doses are due in each district and then allocating the vaccines.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, according to a government statement, told the Covid-19 group of ministers on Saturday that he had requested all states to set aside 70% vaccines received through the Centre’s channel for the second dose. He informed that 174,957,770 doses have been delivered to the states, of which 166,549,583 doses have been consumed and 84,08,187 doses were still available with the states. He added that 5,325,000 doses were to be supplied to the states soon.

Some states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have increased the second dose share to 80% or more given the large numbers involved. Some have stopped walk-in appointments for the 45-plus age group.


Vax Centres Shut in Some Places
States taking this measure include Odisha, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. “This has been done to restrict crowds and manage the vaccination drive better. We are facing severe shortage especially because our vaccination burden of the elderly population is huge. These are all now due for second shots,” a senior Kerala health department official told ET.

In some cases, vaccination centres have had to be shut for this week. For instance, Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur, Chittoor, Guntur, Kurnool, Srikakulam, Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore and YSR district Kadapa would be opened up later this week for second dosing of the 45-plus age group after fresh vaccine supplies.

In Madhya Pradesh, online appointments in Ashoknagar, Burhanpur, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Datia, Dhar and Jhabua have been restricted. MP National Health Mission director Chhavi Bharadwaj confirmed the district officials are reaching out to beneficiaries due for second shots and online appointments for this age group across districts are 10-25% of available slots. In states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, the governments are also restricting the slots for appointments. The second shots are scheduled for the same day or one day in advance.