Mumbai: Those under 45 years will get the jab only at private centres

Currently 63 centres are run by civic and government hospitals and there are 73 privately run centres.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided that people between the age group of 18 and 45 years will get the vaccine only at privately-run vaccine centres. While the BMC will start 227 additional centres for vaccination, it has not yet been decided whether to allow people below 45 years here.

Currently 63 centres are run by civic and government hospitals and there are 73 privately run centres. In addition, the BMC has received applications from 26 private centres seeking permission for vaccinations. The corporation has appealed to private centres to apply for permission so that more centres can be included for vaccination.

Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal held a review meeting on Tuesday with additional commissioners, health officers and ward officers.

Chahal told officers that there are about 90 lakh people in the age group of 18 to 45 years in Mumbai.  For these, about 1 crore 80 lakh doses will have to be given (including both doses). Therefore, adequate availability of vaccine stocks, procurement, transportation, distribution as well as increase in the number of vaccination centres are key issues.

He added that the corporation will go with the next course of action after the decision regarding the vaccination campaign - whether vaccinations should be free for the over 18 years - is taken by the state cabinet on Wednesday.

The corporation has appealed to housing societies, corporate houses, and companies to take the initiative to vaccinate their members by tying up with private hospitals.

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