The Indian government has set up a committee to suggest ways to identify a priority group of about 10 million people below 50 years of age, who have multiple disorders such as severe hypertension and diabetes, for vaccination against covid-19 when the shots are available, NITI Aayog member-health V.K. Paul said on Tuesday. A committee has been constituted, which is actively working and has experts belonging to various specialities, including cancer, kidney, lung, heart, and we are expecting their report very soon, in the next few days, Paul said at a press conference on Tuesday.
The identification process is likely to involve certification by the patients’ doctors.The panel has been asked to consider issues such as the severity of the disease while prioritizing these groups. Paul cited the example of hypertension, which affects around 30% of India’s population, with most having the mild form of high blood pressure.Mild hypertension patients below 50 years of age may not be given priority, but severe hypertension patients will be, he said. This is a technical area. This is in the domain of clinical and epidemiological sciences, and this is the kind of group that is working on it, and we will come forth with their recommendations and the view of the NEGVAC (National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for covid-19) when the report is made available. But this will be available well in time, and we are on track for this, Paul said.
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