The Delhi Government will have to shut vaccination centres for the 18–44 age group if it does not get more vaccines from the Central Government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Monday while seeking 3.82 lakh doses for them. “Only three more days of vaccines left for the age group including today,” he said demanding transparency and open data for the public on the vaccine distribution.

In a letter to Vikram Dev Dutt, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Delhi Government, Dr Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Government of India has said that no vaccines will be distributed for citizens between 18-44 years of age.

According to the letter regarding supply timelines of Covid vaccines, the Central Government has committed to distribute 3.83 lakh doses for the 45 plus age group, however, the same provision has not been extended to the 18-44 age group. “Delhi will receive 2,83,970 doses of Covishield on May 21, 25, 26 and 29 and 98,890 of Covaxin on May 22 and 26 for the 45 plus group,” it stated.

“This is a grave issue that requires the immediate attention of the Central Government. At the very least, they should match the doses for 45+ citizens and distribute 3.83 lakh doses for the 18-44 age group, as well,” Sisodia said. “The Central Government should provide us with information on vaccine doses that will be sent to Delhi in June and July so that we can be ready with the vaccination centres.”

As per vaccination distribution rules, at present the Central Government takes the responsibility for the allocation of 50 per cent of the vaccines and passes on the responsibility for the other 50 per cent to State Governments. “Allocation data on how many vaccine doses have been administered to which State and for which age group, should be open to the public.

We also need to know how many vaccine doses are being sent to private and Government centres. The Central Government should be transparent in its vaccine allocation data, just like it has increasingly shown transparency in oxygen allocation in every State,” Sisodia said.

 The third request pertains to communicating information on the number of vaccine doses that will be administered to us in the months of June and July, just like how we have received information for the month of May. This will help us in planning our vaccination programme, so that we can make a streamlined system of how many centres will be equipped with vaccines and how centres will be managed.”

Delhi has 368 vaccination centres in 76 Government schools for the 18-44 age group.