Received additional Covaxin supply, will only administer second doses to 18-44 years category: Delhi govt tells Delhi High Court

The Delhi government told the Delhi High Court on Friday that COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin shall, in the month of June, be administered only as a second dose for 18-44 years age group (Ashish Virmani vs GNCTD, Rajeev Parashar vs GNCTD)..Counsel for Delhi government, Advocate Anuj Aggarwal told single-judge Justice Rekha Palli that an order to that effect has also been passed by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority..In view of the additional supply of Covaxin to the national capital by Central government and Bharat Biotech, the Delhi High Court on Friday disposed of petitions highlighting its shortage of the purposes of administration of second doses to those in 18-44 years category. .Aggarwal told the Court that apart from the scheduled supply, an additional quantity of 60,000 doses of Covaxin was received by the government to augment the capacity..Consequently, a total quantity of 89,800 doses of Covaxin has been received till June 10, the Court was told. .The Court was also informed that as opposed to an earlier average of 150, the number of slots available has been increased to 200 per day per vaccination site in schools. .According to a previous statement made by the government, 1.5 Lakh first doses were administered between May 1-24, 2021, to those in the age group 18-44 years in Delhi government facilities. .In view of the submissions made on Friday, the Court opined that the grievances of the petitioners has been addressed to a large extent and no further orders would be required. .Even as advocate Deepak Prashar, appearing for one of the petitioners, raised the issue of huge back-log of those needing second doses of Covaxin and the difficulty in booking slots, the Court remarked, "They will do it. I don't need to keep it (petitions) pending.. System has changed. Problems will go.".While disposing of the petitions, the Court appreciated the stand taken by the Delhi government, Central government and the petitioners' effort in bringing the problem before it. .In the petitions, it was highlighted that after the first dose of the ‘Covaxin’ vaccinations at centres in the national capital, the second dose was not being administered in spite of requests for the same..The petitioners asserted that though they had become eligible for the second dose of the vaccine, i.e., after four weeks of having received the first dose of Covaxin, however, the same was not available..Petitioner Ashish Virmani appeared in person. Advocate Ashish Mohan appeared for another petitioner. ."It is clear you cannot vaccinate all the people:" Delhi High Court on Covaxin second dose shortage