Rajesh Tope also said that the decision on lockdown extension in Maharashtra will be taken in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Less number of people at vaccination centre at Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital, Kandivli in Mumbai. Pic/Satej Shinde
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday informed that the state government is considering suspending the Covid-19 vaccination drive temporarily for 18-44 years due to shortage.
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“There is a dearth of vaccines hence we are considering holding off vaccination drive temporarily for the 18-44 age group. Currently, 2.75 lakh vaccine doses are left for this group and it will be used for 45 years and above group now. Administering the second dose is our priority,” Rajesh Tope told ANI.
There is a dearth of vaccines hence we're considering holding off vaccination drive temporarily for 18-44 age group. 2.75 lakh vaccine doses left for this group, that'll be used for 45 yrs & above group now. Administering 2nd dose is priority: Maharashtra Health Min Rajesh Tope pic.twitter.com/KkJ4e9U9MW
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2021
In the past nine days, nearly 25,000 beneficiaries have received their first dose, as per official data till Monday. Civic officials attribute the slow progress to limited stock, and assured that infrastructure is ready to speed up the drive once they have enough supply.
Merely 0.3 per cent (i.e. 24,903) of the people in the target group have received their first dose till May 9. The city has 90 lakh-plus eligible beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group.
Covid-19 immunisation of the 18-44 age group, which started on May 1, has been progressing at a snail's pace due to limited stock of vaccines. Consequently, the BMC allowed vaccination at only five centres — Nair hospital, BKC jumbo Covid-19 centre, SevenHills, Rajawadi and Cooper hospitals. On May 7, three more were added — World Tower in Lower Parel, Chunabhatti Maternity Home and PWD Community Hall in Bandra.
The BMC is planning to float global tenders to procure 50 lakh vaccine vials, which are expected to reach citizens in a month and a half. The vaccines would be offered in civic-run centres only and citizens are likely to get them free of cost. Further, the tenders would have the condition that countries bordering India cannot participate, which means the Chinese vaccine won’t be allowed.
BMC will be inviting an expression of interest in the next two days. It does not have a price range specification as of now and the tenders will be open ones. With the demand high, civic officials said that prices are bound to be higher and as such, they are not setting a price and would have an idea when the bids are in.
Tope further said that the patients suffering from Mucormycosis will be treated for free under the state government's flagship medical insurance scheme.
“Mucormycosis patients will be treated for free under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. Over 2,000 cases have been reported and 8 people have died of this infection in Maharashtra so far. We are making special wards for these patients,” he added.
Mucormycosis patients will be treated for free under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. Over 2,000 cases have been reported & 8 people have died of this infection in the state so far. We are making special wards for these patients: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope pic.twitter.com/XnAT9loG5F
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2021
Mucormycosis is a black fungal infection hitting an increasing number of Covid-19 patients and those who have recovered.
Amid talks of lockdown extension Tope said the decision will be taken in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“The decision of extension of lockdown in the state will be taken in the cabinet meeting tomorrow (May 12),” Tope further said.
Decision over extension of lockdown in the state will be taken in the cabinet meeting tomorrow: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/5xmrHwzx2r
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2021
On Monday, Mumbai registered a drop in the number of daily Covid-19 cases drastically to below 2,000, a first in nearly two months. According to the BMC’s data, officials in the city confirmed 1,794 new Covid-19 infections. However, there was a slight spike in fresh casualties. Of the 74 Covid-19 deceased, 51 patients had comorbidities, 44 were senior citizens and 27 were aged between 40 and 60 years. A total of 3,580 patients were discharged in the city on Monday after they recovered. The recovery rate in Mumbai currently stands at 91 per cent.
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