Mumbai: Small batch of COVID-19 vaccine arrives for population above 18 years

An empty vaccination centre in Dahisar on Friday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Hours before Maharashtra and other parts of the country were to kick off vaccination for the 18-44 category, the BMC grappled with a Catch-22 situation. While it has shut all vaccination centres in the city citing no stock of vaccines, it received a small consignment of shots on Friday night from the state for the new lot, which becomes eligible from today.

A notice board outside JJ hospital's vax centre informing citizens about the closure of the facility till Sunday. Pic/Atul Kamble

The municipal corporation has stopped vaccination across the city till May 2 citing lack of vaccines. Officials said immunising the new category on Saturday will surely enrage those above 45 years of age who are already complaining of vaccine shortage.

Up until April 29, Mumbai had administered 24.28 doses. There are 6 crore people between 18 and 44 years of age in Maharashtra of which 90 lakh live in Mumbai. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, however, has made it clear that the drive for the new age group will start in the state on May 1.

"The BMC has already declared that there will be no vaccination till May 2 and it is still unclear when we will get the new stock for people above 45 years. Though the corporation has received a small batch of vaccines ‘for above 18 years old', it is in a dilemma how and whether to start it," said a senior civic official who did not want to be identified.

The official added, "People are already panicking. If the vaccination starts only for people between 18 and 44 years, it might create chaos at vaccines centres. Even the stock is very limited. Though vaccines will be given only after registration, we may need security to control the crowd."

CM Thackeray has also been flagging the shortage of vaccines. He said that only 3 lakh shots were available across the state against their daily target of 5 lakh.

Civic chief I S Chahal and Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.

Meanwhile, throughout Friday, all vaccination centres were deserted and not a single dose could be delivered in the city due to non-availability of jabs.

90L
No. of 18-44 beneficiaries in the city