After completing two phases of the Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 vaccination drive, Telangana is all set to begin the third phase.
The third phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive would begin from the 1st of March and would vaccinate nearly 55 lakh people. The first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive was held in between the 16th of January to the 6th of February. The second phase started from the 7th of February and would continue till the 28th of February.
After getting approval from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Government, people above the age of 60 and people above 45 having comorbidities would get the doses of two India made COVID-19 vaccines in the third phase. As per the State Government data, nearly 45 lakh people are above 60 years and 10 lakh people of more than 45 years old has comorbidities.
Following the centre’s order, the health officials decided to set up 1,500 vaccine centres across the state to target both the groups.
The state health authorities had plans to vaccinate about 75 lakh people which include 3.5 lakh healthcare employees, 2.5 lakh employees of various frontline departments, 65 lakh people who are above 50 years and four lakh in the 18-50 age group with comorbidities. However, the centre instructed like vaccinating people above 65 years of age and those between 45-60 with comorbidities.
At present, the state has six lakh doses of vaccine and the health officials are expected to receive more 10 lakh doses in the next couple of days.
On the 16th of January, the Nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive began with the India made vaccines, Covishield and COVAXIN.
While Covishield is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII,) COVAXIN is developed by the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Private Limited.
The vaccination drive would continue in the State until every citizen of Telangana is administered the vaccines against the deadly Novel Coronavirus.
