State to soon get over 1 lakh doses of vaccines

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 4, 2021

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday informed that the state is expecting to get another 66,000 doses of vaccines for the 18 -45 age group and close to 71,000 doses for the 45 years and above in the next five-six days time.

“We have already made the payments and those will also be rolled out in a systematic manner,” Sangma told reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting.

Stating that both the vaccination programmes are going on, the chief minister however said “because of the shortage of the vaccines, we are not able to provide the vaccines to everybody as per requirement and desire of the people.”

According to him, vaccination has help to a large extent in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the Congress’ suggestion for a universal vaccination of all citizens including children, who are expected to be affected more by the third wave of the pandemic, the chief minister however said the vaccination policy has been decided by Government of India.

He said therefore, as of now Government of India’s policy is clear that they have first started with the 45 plus category and now the 18-45 category adding “so we will have to wait”.

Sangma however said a lot of the nations are not going for universal vaccination as such but are going for 12 to 18 years.

“Therefore, I am sure time will come when government of india also will take up that policy but till then obviously we will have to go with the direction of the Government of India and it is a very positive suggestion and we are obviously aware of it and I am sure Government of India at an appropriate time take the decision also,” he said.

“There is a shortage so those factors also come in so we are hopeful that we at least finish the 18 to 45 category which is about 15 lakh people in our state and that is really the target that is keeping in front of us and yes, if the Government of India allows, supply is there then definitely a universal programme would be something that we will be happy to do,” the chief minister further added.

The cabinet has also reviewed the installation of the oxygen plants that are coming up in different district hospitals.

“We are very satisfied with the way the work is going forward – in the next few days we will see three-four plants completed,” Sangma said while informing that the cryogenic oxygen plants at Umsawli and Jengjal will also come up within the next two-three weeks.