Govt takes up shortage of Covid booster doses with Centre: CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 3, 2023

The state does not have enough booster doses for administering Covid-19 vaccination to all citizens, according to the government.

“If you have to vaccinate everybody for booster shots then we would not have enough for everybody,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.

Sangma informed that these concerns are being taken up with the Government of India and said, “But as of now, we have not got any indication of free vaccines.”

Stating that the booster doses will be administered to citizens on a payment basis, the chief minister however assured, “But we will take necessary steps to ensure if anybody wants to take the booster vaccination – because it is not made mandatory as such – we will make sure it is available.”  

As on Tuesday, the state has a total of 12 active Covid cases.

When asked, Sangma said testing is taking place but as per evidence, it is a milder version of Covid-19 compared to the previous ones. “That is giving some sense of relief that it is not as deadly as the Delta variant that was there earlier,” he added.

Nevertheless, he said that the government is not letting down its guards by ensuring that any cases that come up, necessary action is being taken.

Sangma further urged the citizens to take precautions by wearing masks and avoiding congested areas and said, “These are things people should do at their own levels so that we can take care so that the overall health infrastructures in key locations are also there so that we are ready for any eventualities.”