Vijayawada: The Covid – 19 vaccine for people in the age group between 18- 44 is likely to available in September at the rate of current production in the country, said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He convened a high-level review meeting on Covid – 19 situations in the State on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister (Health) Alla Nani, Covid Command and Control Centre Chairman KS Jawahar Reddy, Principal Secretary of Health Anil Kumar Singhal, Health Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar and other officials attended the meeting.

In the high – level meeting review he pointed out that the vaccination may take four months to cover an estimated 60 crore people. The vaccination for age group between 18 -44 people will only be completed by February – 2022, he said. Hence, it is imperative for people to strictly adhere to Covid – 19 Appropriate Behaviour to protect themselves from the virus, he said.

YS Jagan said the only solution to Covid – 19 is vaccination and it is uncertain when this problem will be resolved. There are 26 crore people above 45 years of age in the country. They should be given two doses of vaccine, which will require a total of 52 crore doses. The first dose of vaccine was administered to only 12 crore people, while 2.6 crore people received the second dose. A total of 39 crore doses of vaccine is still required, he said.

At present, Bharat Biotech is manufacturing one crore doses of Covaxin per month and Serum Institute six crore doses of Covishield. It will take a few more months for Dr Reddy’s Labs and other pharma companies to produce Covid – 19 vaccines. About 20 crore doses of vaccine can be readied by August.

At the rate of present production, the demand for 39 crore doses can be met by August or September, Jagan analysed. On the rise in demand for beds in Covid – 19 hospitals following spurt in new infections, the Chief Minister directed officials to increase beds in hospitals, arrange 3,000 beds in Covid – 19 Care Centres in every district and 1,000 of them should be oxygen beds.

The Chief Minister instructed them to increase the rates for empanelled private hospitals for Covid – 19 treatments and make the new rates applicable to Aarogyasri hospitals also. The officials should ensure that no hospital refuses to treat Covid – 19 cases, he said. Most importantly, CM asked the officials to enhance the salaries of FNOs and MNOs working in Covid – 19 hospitals.

He directed them to recruit doctors, nurses and para medical staff in all Covid – 19 hospitals in the State on a temporary basis as per the requirement. No complaints should come about shortage of medical staff to treat Covid – 19 cases, he said.

Taking stock of oxygen supply in the State, YS Jagan said 42 PSA (Pressure swing adsorption) plants should be set up in the State to meet the requirement of Covid – 19 hospitals. If necessary 10 KL capacity oxygen tanks should be installed in teaching hospitals and 1 KL capacity tanks in other Covid – 19 hospitals to meet the total requirements of liquid medical oxygen fully, he said.