On Thursday, January 13, the Maharashtra government demanded 40 lakh Covaxin and 50 lakh Covishield doses from the Union to augment its vaccination coverage during a meeting of the Chief Ministers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the current, COVID-19 condition, reports stated.
According to accounts, state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray was unable to attend the meeting owing to health reasons. Therefore, in his stead, state health minister Rajesh Tope was in attendance. However, it has been reported that Tope was not permitted to speak.
Based on narratives, after the meeting, Tope told media persons that they demanded 40 lakh doses of Covaxin and 50 lakh doses of Covishield. He added that Covaxin is needed for the inoculation drive for those between the age of 15-18, while Covishield is needed for the vaccination drive for those over the age of 60 and frontline workers.
Tope spoke about Thackeray skipping the meeting by elaborating on how the doctors advised the chief minister to not sit in one place for two-and-a-half house owing to post-surgical treatment, thus he didn't attend the meeting and deputed Tope instead.
The state health minister further mentioned that the state through a written submission requested the Union to come up with mandatory measures to solve the problem of vaccine hesitancy. Apart from this, it also sought clarity on the treatment protocol. Tope thinks that while every state is imposing its restrictions, the Union must issue standard operating procedures, highlighted accounts.
Tope is reported to have also stated that the issue of citizens utilizing home kits and rapid antigen tests were also raised since positive cases aren't being reported. He remarked that the state has asked pharma companies to keep records of those purchasing such kits for tracking purposes.
The state health minister also elucidated on how the state government brought it to the Centre's attention that coronavirus's Delta variant continues to be the dominant strain in the state, with 2,700 of the 4,000 samples sent for genome sequencing testing positive for Delta. On the other hand, of these, 1,300 testes positive for Omicron.
Also Read: Maharashtra: Soon, Only Fully Vaccinated Can Get Access To These Services
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