COVID-19: Vaccination for 18-44 age group begins in Kerala
The Kerala government has already issued detailed guidelines for the vaccination of this age group and released the list of comorbidities to determine the eligibility.
Amid COVID-19 cases continuing to show an upward trend in the state, vaccination for the prioritised groups in the 18-44 years age category began in Kerala on Monday with over 1.90 lakh people registering in the last two days to get the first dose.
People with comorbidities belonging to this age group are included in the first priority group, Health Department sources here said.
The state government has already issued detailed guidelines for the vaccination of this age group and released the list of comorbidities to determine the eligibility, they said.
Eligible people have been directed to register on the government website concerned to be included in the priority list.
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After reviewing the documents provided by them at the district level, the eligible people have been notified via SMS stating the vaccination centre, date and time according to the availability and priority of the vaccine.
As per the guidelines, the beneficiaries should produce the appointment SMS from the Health Department, a valid photo ID proof and the comorbidity certificate at the vaccination centres.
The second dose of the Covishield vaccine should be taken between 12 to 16 weeks after receiving the first dose and the second dose of Covaxin from four to six weeks after taking the first shot, it said.
A total of 1,90,745 people, belonging to the age group of 18-44 years, have registered in the last two days for vaccination in the state, Health department sources added.
On Sunday, an Oxygen Express train carrying 118 metric tonnes of medical oxygen arrived in Kerala from Odisha. Sources said the medical oxygen load was meant for Delhi but it was diverted to Kerala after requirement in the national capital dipped.
The Oxygen Express train reached Kerala, two days after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to allocate 450 MT oxygen as the state was witnessing an increase in the number of patients who require critical care, including oxygen support.
(Disclaimer: Additional background information has been added to this PTI copy for context)
Edited by Saheli Sen Gupta
