Covid-19 Vaccination Phase-2 Likely To Be Completed By Mid-June, Ahead Of Govt's September Target: Report

The second phase of India's Covid-19 vaccination drive, which started on 1 March, is likely to be completed by mid-June, much ahead of its September target.

In phase 2 of the India's Covid vaccination drive, the people above 60 and those in the 45-59 age group with comorbodities are eligible for vaccine administration.

India rolled out the Covid-19 vaccination drive, which is being touted as world's largest inoculation exercise, on 16 January this year with health care workers and front line workers being the first to receive the jab in the phase one of the drive.

The Health Ministry had reportedly maintained that phase 2 of the drive would be wrapped up between August and September.

Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said that India would be able to complete both phases of vaccination - targetted at 30 crore beneficiaries - by September, reports Economic Times.

However, with the states finalising their phase 2 plans and conveying their vaccine requirements to the health ministry, the second phase of the drive is expected to wrap up sooner than expected.

All states have indicated that they will be able to complete the second phase of vaccination between May end and mid-June, according to the health ministry sources quoted by Economic Times.

According to the report, the states have indicated to the Health Ministry that if they are assured of adequate vaccine supply, they can ramp up the vaccination sites and employ a cohort approach to reach out to the vulnerable population especially senior citizens who are themselves not able to register and schedule an appointment for vaccination.

"We have framed our state plan. We are scaling up vaccination and we expect to wrap up the second phase by mid-June.” Madhya Pradesh National Health Mission director Chhavi Bharadwaj was quoted as saying.

Similarly, Odisha NHM director Shalini Pandit said that the state would be able to complete the second phase by mid-June.

As part of ramping up the vaccination, the states are roping in more private hospitals and increasing sites for vaccine administration at government facilities.