Vaccination of 18-44yrs at 55 centres in Vidarbha today

Nagpur: To mark Maharashtra Day, the state government has decided to start Covid-19 vaccination of 18-44 years age group from five centres in each district. There will thus be 55 centres in 11 districts of Vidarbha on Saturday. The region has received 1,34,500 doses of Covishield.
After announcement of roll out of inoculation for 18-plus from May 1, state had first delayed starting that citing shortage of doses and lack of preparations. The state’s family welfare bureau on Friday issued a letter to all districts directing them to start inoculation of 18-44 years at five centres.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI, “There will be three centres in city at Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya (IGR), Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital and Isolation Hospital. Vaccination will be done of those who are registered and scheduled online. There will be no walk-ins, so people should not crowd the centres,” he said.
Remaining two centres will be in rural areas. Activist Shashank Gattewar told TOI, “I happened to do registration on website of Co-Win after a few attempts. All centres are showing they are reserved for only 45-plus. When proceeded for scheduling at given three centres, it is not happening. How will NMC select beneficiaries?”
As per government’s letter, centre for 18-44 years age group and 45-plus will be separate. “Within available vaccine stock, sessions should be planned in such a way that vaccination goes on for seven days,” the government said.
Amravati divisional commissioner Piyush Singh said, “Five centres in each of five districts of Amravati division will begin vaccination of 18-44 years age group. We don’t have any fixed target for each centre. We are planning upto 200 per day at each. Five districts have received 5,000-7,000 doses each which we have to use in next seven days.”
Similarly, six districts of Nagpur division are likely to vaccinate 100-200 persons per centre per day.
Vaccination was again hit in Chandrapur following shortage of doses on Friday. Only eight of 164 centres were able to carry out inoculation of 45-plus. For fifth consecutive day, many centres in Nagpur were closed after vaccination in first half for want of doses. In the district, 19,147 took the jab on Friday.
Of 1,34,500 doses of Covishield, six districts of Nagpur division got 57,500 and while 77,000 went to five districts of Amravati division. Nagpur district was allocated only 10,000 doses which are not enough for even one day. The district is also facing shortage of Covaxin doses. The government did not send any Covaxin.