It’s official: Covid-19 vaccinations for 18-44 age group halted in Maharashtra

A woman gets the shot at Nair hospital’s vaccination centre on Sunday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The state cabinet on Wednesday endorsed the Health Department's decision of diverting vaccine doses meant for the 18-44 years group to the group of people aged 45 years and above. It is also in favour of extending the lockdown-like restrictions till May 31.

Health Minister Rajesh Tope told reporters on Wednesday evening that some 20 lakh beneficiaries are in immediate need of the second dose because further delay would make their first dose ineffective.

"We need four lakh Covaxin and 16 lakh Covishield doses for those whose second shot is due," he said, adding that the government has diverted Covaxin bought for the 18-44 group to the 45 and above category.

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He said that the Centre hasn't been able to cater to the National Vaccination Programme (for healthcare and frontline workers and 45+ groups). "Covishield producers have promised 1.5 crore doses by May 20. If we get the supply, we may be able to restart the vaccination of younger people," he said.

Tope said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining the situation of the inoculation drive in Maharashtra. About restrictions imposed, he said that travelling on suburban trains wouldn't be possible anytime soon, and stated that his cabinet colleagues were in favour of extending the lockdown-like curbs till May 31. "Not all districts have reduced active cases though some districts have benefited from the restrictions," he said. The existing deadline for restrictions ends on May 15. The minister said authorities would give guidelines in the next two days.

Mission oxygen

Tope said that the cabinet also approved, in principal, several concessions and incentives for industries willing to produce medical grade oxygen. The sops include duty waiver, discounted electricity tariffs and other commercial concessions.

Import of vaccines

The minister said importing vaccines would be possible only when the union government approves the drugs for use in India. "Also, cold chains for some international vaccines work on different temperatures. We are waiting for the Centre to act, and the cabinet suggested that CM Thackeray should make the PM aware of the vaccination situation in Maharashtra," he said.

20L
Approx. no. of people in urgent need of the 2nd dose