Thiruvananthapuram : Government will begin registration on priority basis for residents between 18 - 45 years from Saturday with vaccinations for them starting Monday. There is not enough stock inoculate all those eligiblem however the government will begin administering vaccines on existing supplies, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the press meet Friday.
Also, only those completing 84 days after fist shot of Covishield will be eligible for 2nd dose vaccination from tomorrow. The new criterion is based on latest advisory from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which recommends Covishield 2nd shot between 12 - 16 weeks after the first. However, gap between shots for Covaxin remain the same, namely 4 to 6 weeks after the first.
The extended gap for Covishield comes on findings that it has lasting effect from 84 to 112 days.
There is no need to flock at vaccination centres, said CM, assuring that, everybody will get their dose of the vaccine.
Mask, sanitising of hands and safe distancing would be essential even after vaccination. All Covid-mitigation basics should be observed till every individual in the state is vaccinated and safe, said CM.
The government has made changes to its testing strategies in state . If a person turns positive on antigen testing, he will be assumed infected without resorting to confirmatory RT-PCR test. Also, compulsory testing before hospital discharge would not be necessary any more, said CM.
