Maharashtra to get 18 lakh COVID vaccine doses in May: Health Minister Rajesh Tope

Health Minister Rajesh Tope commented about the 18-44 age group vaccination drive and said “We need to reduce the number of vaccination centres so that they administer the doses on a daily basis in a smooth manner.”

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday stated that Covid-19 vaccine makers informed the state government that up to 18-lakh vaccine doses could be provided to the state in May, reported PTI.

“We have been told by the vaccine makers that up to 18 lakh doses could be supplied to Maharashtra in the month of May. In that situation, the state is planning to set up one centre per district to inoculate people,” Health Minister Rajesh Tope said in a press conference.

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Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government announced the nationwide exercise of vaccinating people from the 18-44 age group cannot be launched in the state on the first day of May as it does not have enough quantities of vaccines.

Commenting about the 18-44 age group vaccination drive, he said, “We need to reduce the number of vaccination centres so that they administer the doses on a daily basis in a smooth manner.”

According to the NDTV reports, the Maharashtra Health Minister suggested that people should visit the vaccination centres after taking prior appointments. “It will avoid crowding and everyone will get doses,” he added.

“Unless we get an adequate supply of vaccines, we cannot increase the coverage of the population in terms of their vaccination,” Rajesh Tope said.

Speaking over the vaccine procurement policy the Maharashtra Health Minister said, “the centre is going to buy 50 per cent of the total vials produced by the manufacturers.”

He added, “now, the crucial question is who should get the vaccines from the remaining 50 per cent quota, which the Centre has allowed to be sold directly to the state governments and hospitals. I think the central government will have to intervene here as well.”

While India has been grappling with the Covid-19 cases, efforts are being made to curb the spread of the virus. In the midst of a devastating second wave of coronavirus, the nation is witnessing an unprecedented spike in cases and deaths.
Meanwhile, several states have recorded a spike in Covid-19 cases, and it is speculated that there will be more demand for vaccines.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope added that the central government needs to come up with some policy so that every state gets an equal share of doses.