Maharashtra asks Centre for more vaccines

A health worker shows vials of Covaxin and Covishield at Nair Hospital on Monday. Pic/Ashish Raje

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to increase the supply of vaccines against the novel Coronavirus to Maharashtra, where the intensified vaccination programme is expected to need 20 lakh doses per week. Currently, the state has a stock that can last 10 days.

Thackeray's office said on Wednesday that the CM has suggested that the city's Haffkine Institute be allowed to manufacture Covaxin. Following this, the PM agreed to explore the possibility not only at Haffkine, but in other states where such facilities are available, said the CMO.

State Health Minister Rajesh Tope, who briefed the press after the CM-PM virtual meeting, said the Centre could use the Haffkine facility on a condition that 25 % of production is reserved for Maharashtra, or allow the state-owned company to work on ‘fill and finish' basis.

He said the state didn't blame the Centre for the lack of supply, but wanted the supply increased to meet the requirement for the extensive drive in Maharashtra.

Thackeray suggested that all people above 45 years, with or without comorbidities, be vaccinated across the country. "Active patients also include young people. So consider all above 45 years for vaccination," he told the PM.

Tope said the state government has urged the Centre to reconsider the parameter of a 100-bed hospital for vaccination centres. "We want that smaller hospitals with a cold chain, adequate space and adverse event immunisation facility be allowed too," said Tope, adding that state now has 209 centres and wanted approval for at least 150 more, in order to intensify vaccination.

According to Tope, the state has asked Centre for scientific explanation for the rising number of active cases. "Is it a different strain of virus, a mutant or something else? We want the national communicable diseases expert agencies to tell us. We have sent them many samples," added Tope.