Rajasthan may exhaust COVID-19 vaccines by tomorrow; seeks Centre's help
What's the story
Rajasthan is expected to run out of vaccines for COVID-19 if the central government does not step in to assist immediately, the state government has said.
Reportedly, the state government has slowed down its vaccination drive, saving doses for those who need to be administered the second shot.
However, the central government reportedly denied that there is a shortage of vaccines in Rajasthan.
Details
SOS sent to central government: Rajasthan Health Minister
Rajasthan is only left with 5.85 lakh doses for the next two days, NDTV reported.
"We have vaccines for three days," state Health Minister Dr. Raghu Sharma told NDTV, revealing that an SOS was sent to the Centre.
"We asked for 60 lakh vaccines needed in March alone to continue the drive as is. If we don't get vaccines, the drive could stop mid-way."
Centre’s assistance
Centre denies shortage of vaccines
Reportedly, the central government has already sent 85,000 emergency doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the state.
However, sources in the Union Health Ministry told NDTV that there was no shortage of vaccines in Rajasthan.
Separately, the state has also re-distributed the vaccines to meet the shortfall in districts like Bundi, Jhalawar, Jhunjhunu, Alwar, Nagaur, Jaipur, and Karauli.
Quote
No shortage of COVID-19 vaccine with Rajasthan: Centre
The Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday, "...There is no shortage of COVID-19 vaccine with the state at present. Rajasthan has been supplied 37.61 lakh doses and has consumed only 24.28 lakh doses till yesterday night."
"The central government is regularly monitoring the availability of vaccine supply in all states and union territories, and providing the doses as per their requirement and consumption pattern."
Vaccination drive
Rajasthan requires 136 lakh vaccine doses
Rajasthan has 67 lakh beneficiaries for the COVID-19 vaccines and over 29.9 lakh doses have been administered since the vaccination drive was launched on January 16.
As the vaccination drive has picked up the pace, the state now requires 136 lakh vaccine doses to inoculate frontline workers, people aged over 60, and people aged over 45 with co-morbidities.
Outbreak
3.2 lakh infected in Rajasthan; 98.5% recovered
As of Monday, the latest available update, Rajasthan has reported a total of 3,21,711 COVID-19 infections.
3,17,039 people have recovered in the state since the beginning of the pandemic and only 1,833 infections are active.
The death toll in the state is 2,789.
On Monday, the state reported 179 new cases and no fresh fatalities.