India yet to pull the plug on its Covid vaccination drive

Experts feel paid vaccine shots should continue to be available for elderly and comorbid

- SOHINI DAS

Only 14 sites across the country are now conducting Covid-19 vaccination even as the Centre is yet to pull the plug on the drive.

Sources told Business Standard that no clear decision has been taken yet on closing down the vaccination drive.

"No clear decision on closure. Some vaccinations are taken by travellers with doses in states," said a senior government official.

India has 743 active Covid cases as on May 12 (morning), according to data on the Union health ministry website.

No vaccinations took place on Sunday. On Saturday, 16 shots were administered. Out of the 14 vaccination centres running across the country, 10 are private.

Some states have hospitalised Covid cases as well. For example, the latest media bulletin of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) of the Public Health Department, Maharashtra, shows there were 41 active cases in the state as of May 11.

Of this, around 35 patients were in home isolation. Around six patients were hospitalised, of whom four were admitted to the ICU.

Does the country need to continue with the Covid vaccination drive? Experts feel that a contingency stockpile of some vaccines should be maintained.