In response to the Maharashtra health minister’s demand of around 5.5 lakh second dose of Covid for the people of Maharashtra, the Centre supplied just 36,000 doses of Covaxin to Maharashtra on Sunday.
Why Maharashtra has reported vaccine shortage ?
The Covid vaccination in Mumbai saw a dip in the turnout as only 19,631 people got the shots a fall of 67% compared to Saturday. All major vaccination centres, including Nesco jumbo centre in Goregaon and BKC in Bandra, remained shut due to lack of doses.
Maharashtra has also received 7.03 lakh doses of Covishield that could help the state carry on with its vaccination drive for just three more days. But for those aged 18-44 years, there are reasons to rejoice as Maharashtra received the second consignment of 3.5 lakh Covishield doses on Sunday that it had procured from Serum Institute of India.
Before this consignment, the Serum Institute had supplied 3 lakh doses to kick-start the drive on May 1, while Bharat Biotech had given 4.79 lakh Covaxin doses. Serum Institute is also learnt to have promised Maharashtra of providing 13.5 lakh doses in May.
What states officials has said about vaccination ?
The states immunisation officer Dr Dilip Patil said the new consignment would mean the 18-44 age group’s vaccination drive will continue at its current pace for some time, but there are concerns about the unavailability of Covaxin. He said whatever doses have come will be used only to administer second doses.
While speaking to a Marathi news channel, Aaditya Thackeray said that the state is speaking to Adar Poonawala about making vaccines available. He said as soon as the doses are received, it will be distributed in an equitable manner.
Why Maharashtra has slow in vaccination ?
Yet until March India vaccinated a lesser number of its own people than overseas. According to statistics, while India vaccinated 39 lakh frontline workers in the first two weeks after January 16, by January end, 1.6 crore vaccines were exported. By April 1 when the drive was open for all above 45, India has exported 6.5 crore shots.
Less than three months to its July 2021 deadline India has only reached 25 percent of its target. Due to the shortage in the vaccine, inoculation dropped from 35 lakh each day in the first week of April to 21 lakh in the last week of April. In May the daily average dropped further to 16 lakh doses being administered per day.