Telangana bats for vaccination for all above 25

Naveen S Garewal 
Tribune News Service 
Hyderabad, April 19

Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender has asked the central government through the Union Health Ministry to allow everyone above the age of 25 years to be eligible for the Covid vaccine. The state has found a majority of the new infections among people below 45 years of age.

Eatala Rajender told the media that he had personally spoken to Union Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday seeking vaccination for all above 25. He said the state was hoping the Centre takes a positive decision on the issue.

“Youngsters above 25 years form the largest group of Covid infections, and it is our duty to vaccinate them. We are hoping the Centre takes a positive decision on the issue”, he said adding “a sharp spike in cases, amid the second wave of the novel coronavirus youths should be vaccinated at the earliest”.

On shortage of Covid vaccines in Telangana, Rajender said that about 2.7 lakh vaccine doses will reach the state anytime as per the promise by the Union Health Minister.

“From the beginning, vaccine procurement and distribution is under the control of the Centre and it is up to them to ensure all States receive their share of vaccines in a timely manner. We have the ability to vaccinate 10 lakh persons per day and have urged MOHFW to increase our allotment,” he said while interacting with the press here.

Following a video conference between Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the health authorities have ramped-up the Covid vaccination process. “On an average, every day we are vaccinating 1.5 lakh eligible individuals across the State. We are also focusing on achieving 100 percent vaccine coverage for health care and front-line workers,” he said.