COVID-19 vaccination drive for 18-44 year olds will solely depend on supply: Maharashtra CM

Beneficiaries queue up outside Nair hospital for their vaccine doses. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The state government has announced that vaccines will be provided for free to those between 18 and 44 years of age but in all probability the expanded programme will not start on May 1, the day it's scheduled to take off across the nation. According to the Congress, inoculation of this particular group will get delayed till the end of May.

People wait in a queue outside Shri Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital in Borivli to take their vaccine doses on Wednesday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Though it did not specify till which date it would be delayed, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office said after a weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the 18-44 age group programme will solely depend on the vaccine supply. "The state is cash-strapped but public health is paramount. We will declare the vaccination schedule after planning it properly," said CMO.

The cabinet approved a Rs 6,500 crore proposal that includes the cost of buying 12 crore vaccine doses and expenditure related to additional infrastructure. It has asked two Indian companies to supply as much as possible and wants the Centre to help procure Sputnik from Russia and its Indian collaborator. Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) has promised 85 lakh doses over the next six months, while Serum Institute of India hasn't given any assurance as yet. The Cabinet also cleared city-based Hafkinne Institute for manufacturing Covaxin. It will contribute '94 crore while the Union Government will give Rs 65 crore for setting up laboratories and other facilities required.

Health minister Rajesh Tope said a committee of ministers and bureaucrats will plan priority sub-groups for the 18-44 category.

"The committee will decide whether seniors like people aged between 35 and 44 years, or those with comorbidities should get priority. Micro-planning is necessary because we cannot inoculate 5.71 crore people simultaneously if we get the vaccines later in May," added Tope. He said the eligible would have to pay for the jabs at private facilities.

Sources in the government said that it would appeal to those who can afford to pay for the jabs to donate the cost of the doses to the government. Donation/cheque collection boxes will be placed at the vaccination centres. Youth Congress president Satyajit Tambe made a similar appeal on Wednesday.

"Please donate the vaccine amount to the CM's Relief Fund. It can be used for some other COVID-related work," he tweeted.

Lockdown extension

Tope said he wanted the lockdown extension for at least 15 days.

"The Cabinet thinks that the lockdown should be extended because the COVID-19 caseload is still high. The notification will be issued in a day or two and the extension period will also be announced, which could be between seven and 15 days," he said.