Amaravati,  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has said that vaccination is the only solution to address the Covid challenge and the process to inoculate people in the 18-45 age group will likely begin across the state in September.

The Centre has cleared vaccination of people in the 18-45 age group, from May 1.

At a review meeting on Covid vaccination here on Thursday, the Chief Minister anticipated that the present situation will continue till February next year and advised everyone to remain cautious. He added that sanitation is important in this regard.

Reddy said that he expects that the vaccination for the 18-45 age group to start in September, once it is completed for people above 45 years.

"It will take four months to complete vaccination for people in the 18-45 age group which means they will be vaccinated by the end of January next."

The CM said that Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII) have been manufacturing one crore and six crore vaccines per month respectively and it will take few more months for Dr Reddy's Laboratories and other company vaccines to be made available.

He said 20 crore vaccines can be made ready by August and adding 7 crore vaccines, the demand for 39 crore vaccines could be met by August or September.

Reddy added there are 60 crore people in the country between the age of 18 and 45 and 120 crore vaccine doses are still required for them.