Karnataka’s BJP government has deferred Covid-19 vaccination for the people between 18 and 44 years of age until fresh stocks of the doses arrive.

Karnataka health minister K. Sudhakar on Friday said those who become eligible for Covid-19 jabs on May 1 would have to wait for some time since the state did not have sufficient stock of vaccines.

“We are requesting people of Karnataka, especially those above 18 and up to 44 years, to refrain from going to hospitals thinking that you may be vaccinated tomorrow (Saturday). We will definitely update them after receiving confirmation from the Serum Institute of India (SII),” he said.

Chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa had on Thursday confirmed the severe shortage of vaccines in the state.

“The Centre has so far given us 99.40 lakh doses of vaccine and 93.50 lakh have already been administered. Only 5.9 lakh doses are available,” he had said.

The vaccine shortage has affected a large number of senior citizens in the state who are waiting for their second dose.

Even large private hospitals, which were set to launch the vaccination programme for 18 to 44-year-olds from May 1, have postponed the plan.

“We are in for huge confusion since we have no idea how many vials we will get,” Dr K.Harish, associate dean of Ramaiah Medical College Hospital told The Telegraph on Friday.

“The supply has been very erratic for over 15 days. Although, we have set aside a large area for vaccination that can handle 1,500-2,000 people a day, we have been getting only very few vials. On some days we get 20, on others we get nothing putting us on the receiving end as people shout at us,” Harish said.

The hospital has been talking to both the Serum Institute of India that makes Covishield, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in India, and Bharat Biotech that makes Covaxin.

“Ideally we need at least 50 vials of each of these vaccines since there is a huge demand from those coming in for their second dose,” he said.

While private hospitals hitherto charged Rs 250 for a dose, Harish said the changed vaccine regime would escalate the prices.

“We just want to break even and not make any profits on vaccines. But still we have to add Rs 100 to Rs 200 for deploying manpower and syringes,” he said, alluding to how the SII and Bharat Biotech have priced the vaccines at Rs 600 and Rs 1,200 per dose, respectively, for private players.

While the price for the Centre is Rs 150 for a dose, that for the state governments is Rs 300 for Covishield and Rs 400 for Covaxin.