Maharashtra: Vaccination Of 18-44 Years Group Temporarily Suspended Due To Vaccine Shortage
Mumbai, 11th May 2021: Vaccination of 18 to 44-year-olds is likely to slow down further. Maharashtra State Health Minister Rajesh Tope hinted at this today against the backdrop of a shortage of vaccines. A final decision will be taken in the next two days after discussions with the task force, Tope said.
He informed about the status of vaccination in the state at a press conference held in Mumbai. So far 1 crore 84 lakh citizens have been vaccinated in the state. Five lakh citizens above 45 years of age are yet to be given a second dose. Under the National Immunization Program, it is mandatory to give both doses to these citizens on a priority basis. However, currently, only 35,000 doses of Covaxin are available in the state. So, the state government has decided to divert 2.75 lakh doses for the citizens in the age group of 18 to 44 years for the second dose of above 45 years people.
“The government is also planning to reduce the speed of vaccination of citizens in the age group of 18 to 44. I have spoken to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about this. A final decision will be taken soon in consultation with the task force”, he said.
For those above 45 years of age, 16 lakh doses of Covishield are yet to be received from the Central Government. “I have discussed this with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. However, these doses are not available with the central government. That is why the doses purchased by the state government for citizens between the ages of 18 to 44 will be used for citizens above 45 years. Such instructions have been given to vaccination centres all over Maharashtra”, said Tope.
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