October dip leaves Maharashtra with 90 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses, cloud over December target

MUMBAI: Even as the state sits on more than 90 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses, the October slump in vaccination has put a question mark on its plan to cover its entire eligible population with at least one shot by December.
Immunisation against Covid-19 dropped by 31% in October compared to September due to festivities primarily and the diminishing fear of Covid itself.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday expressed concern over the slow pace of vaccination and said he will take up the issue during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week. Thackeray, speaking during an informal meet with journalists, said that vaccine hesitancy was an issue and urged people to shed their inhibitions and get vaccinated.
A cursory calculation shows that 100% single dose coverage could be achieved in the next two months (barring Sundays) if 4.66 lakh people come out to get vaccinated daily. The target can be reached much sooner if the daily average increases to 7.5 lakh doses, which was seen in September and has been Maharashtra’s best. Dr Pradeep Vyas, principal secretary (health), confirmed that the state had more than 90 lakh doses and there was no shortage of supply.
Dr Sachin Desai, state immunisation officer, said the districts were certain that the first dose immunisation would not drag till next year. “We are positive that the daily numbers would see a rise post-Diwali,” he said. Maharashtra has an adult population of 9.14 crore, of which 73% has got a single shot. “That leaves over 2.46 crore to get their first jabs. That number can be covered easily if 4 lakh-5 lakh people come out and get vaccinated daily,” Desai said, adding that the state can handle triple that load.
Maharashtra has claimed to have a capacity of administering 15lakh doses in a day, a landmark that was reached just once on September 8. In October, even the 10 lakh mark was not crossed even once. The highest single day coverage was a little over 8 lakh, achieved thrice. The daily average hovered around 5 lakh, down from 7.5 lakh in September. Overall, after a record 2.2 crore doses given in September, only 1.56 crore doses were given in October. “We have the stocks and capacity. Only people have to turn up,” the immunisation officer said.
On Friday, the state received another 30 lakh doses, which pushed available stock to over 90 lakh. “The slackening of pace has been noted across India,” Desai said.
Mumbai, the district that has vaccinated the most, is inches away from touching 100% single-dose coverage. “We have enough stocks, but turnout is very weak,” said Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner. The corporation had hoped to touch 100% by October but has fallen short by 2%. Of the city’s estimated population of 92 lakh, 91.15 lakh have got the first dose, according to CoWin.
Kakani said that the second-dose coverage of the entire population could spill over till the end of January. In Mumbai, over 4 lakh have not taken their second shots despite being due for it.
The state has fully vaccinated only a third of its population (3 crore), which means the immunisation programme would drag on to several months next year. More than 70 lakh people who are due for their second dose haven’t come forward to take the shots.