On Monday, the Centre has permitted anyone who is above 18 years to receive anti-Covid vaccine shots from 1st May. The options are opened for states and hospitals and corporate houses to acquire vaccines and vaccinate those who are eligible.

The decision was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modiat a meeting, stating that satisfactory coverage of vulnerable groups is currently eligible for immunization and was expected by 30th April. The stage is setting for a more liberalised method in terms of pricing and age-determined eligibility.

In India, pharma companies manufacturing will be free to sell 50% of their production to states and chains of hospitals at a pre-fixed price for vaccinating people above 18 years of age outside the central programme. States will be free to decide on the age bar for any specific category above 18 years. The central programme of vaccinating above 45 years will continue with the vaccine shots given free in government hospitals.

As per the analysis of hospitalised COVID-19 patients by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 47.5% patients reported shortness of breath in the second wave, against 41.7% patients in the first wave, thus explaining the current increase in demand for oxygen.

The demographic study was based on data that was collected from 40 centres across the country showed that 41.1% of patients in the first wave required oxygen, rising to 54.5% in the second wave. It also showed that 37.3% hospitalised patients needed mechanical ventilation in the second wave, while the number was 27.8% during the first wave.

Approximately, 55% of the patients in the first wave had minimum one comorbidity but during the second wave, the share of these patients has dropped to 48.6%.

Source: ET Healthworld