Less than 1% of Maharashtra’s 18-44 age group have received shots so far

MUMBAI: Around 5lakh in the age bracket of 18-44 years have got vaccinated in the 10 days since the drive began in the state on May 1. Constraints in securing online appointments and limited supplies have combined to ensure that less than 1% (0.87%) of the estimated 5.71 crore population in this category could be covered so far.

In Mumbai, less than 30,000 have managed to get the vaccine out of the estimated population of 55lakh, a little over 0.54%.
Experts are questioning the strategy of vaccinating a meagre 50,000 people from this age group daily as this may have little impact on disease severity or mortality.
The state is keen to push for sequential vaccination—giving priority to the 35-44 years group or those with comorbidities—but this plan cannot be implemented till changes are incorporated in the Co-Win app used for booking vaccine appointments, officials said.
Maharashtra has so far purchased over 10 lakh vaccines for the 18-44 group and have been assured of another 10 lakh later this month. The latest consignment of 3.5lakh Covishield doses procured by the state arrived on Sunday.
A civic official said, “We were not keen on starting the drive for 18-44 on May 1 since vaccinating just 1,000 in a day would be resource intensive and cover very little”. But the official added that from five centres they have now doubled the reach for this group, including two private hospitals (HN Reliance and Nanavati).
On Monday, 4,837 in the 18-44 group took the vaccine, the highest daily turnout so far. “Even though numbers are rising daily, it’s a drop in the ocean,” the official said, adding that the drive is a logistical nightmare for staffers who have to balance stocks from state and Centre and simultaneously manage online and offline appointments.
A vaccination centre in-charge said this leg of the immunisation drive should have been started only when enough doses were available rather than spreading it thin.
Amravati civic surgeon Dr Shyamsunder Nikam said the district vaccinates only around 200 from 18-44 but slots get booked in 2-3 minutes.
“Locals from areas like Melghat are struggling to book appointments due to poor internet coverage,” he said, adding that in the rural centres 50%-60% of the vaccines doses have been taken by people from nearby cities.
Vaccination expert Dr Naveen Thacker said in Gujarat, vaccination for 18-44 has only been started in six corporations and three districts that have high case burden rather than spreading the doses thin across the state.
The drive for the 45-plus group too is faltering due to shortage of vaccines meant to be supplied by the Centre. At least 5lakh people are waiting for the second dose of Covaxin and multiple times of that number are waiting for Covishield. An officer from Kolhapur , which has vaccinated 57% of its 45-plus population said the appointment-only method has slowed down pace.