27 June,2021 07:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Prajakta Kasale
A young woman receives a jab at Nair Hospital. Pic/Suresh Karkera
The BMC-run centres, which restarted the vaccination drive for the 18 to 44 years age group on June 21, have managed to catch-up after all. Of the 3.33 lakh vaccines administered in these centres in the last six days, around 65 per cent (2.11 lakh) were given to youngsters.
The Central government had briefly stopped free vaccination for people between 18 to 44 years after kick-starting it on May 1, due to which many turned to private centres for paid vaccines. Until last Saturday, private centres had administered a total of 10.08 lakh doses, while civic-run centres had given vaccines to only 52,707 people, mostly in the first few days after May 1, before the cancellation.
But within just six days, the civic centres have caught up, vaccinating 2,11,726 people. These include two days - Thursday and Friday - when vaccination was hampered due to a shortage of stock.
"Rich people can go for paid vaccines, but poor people can't afford them and totally depend on civic centres. Now, with the Central government allowing vaccination, the BMC has speeded up vaccination for this age group," said Rajul Patel, chairperson of the health committee of the BMC.
On Saturday, Mumbai recorded the highest number of vaccinations till date. Public and private centres immunised 1.54 lakh people on Saturday, out of which 1.22 lakh vaccines were given as a first dose. The vaccinations number had declined on Thursday and Friday due to a shortage of stock.
2.11L
No. of people vaccinated in 18-44 age group since June 21
52,707
No. of people vaccinated in the same age group between May 1 and June 21
