Maharashtra to review if 18-44 age group can be vaccinated at govt centres

Days after Prime Minister Narendra announced free vaccines for 18-44 age group beneficiaries across the states, the Maharashtra government is likely to review whether inoculation for this category can be resumed in government centres.

According to reports, Maharashtra received 24.78 lakh doses in June from the Centre. It is slated to receive another 17 lakh doses on Wednesday, June 16. With the available stock, officials said there may be enough to start immunising the 18-44 age group in government centres.

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Meanwhile, officials said that one reason behind the shift in policy is that government centres are witnessing a dip in demand for jabs by people in the 45-plus age group.

He also stated that a more worrying trend is that at least 8.46 lakh healthcare and frontline workers as well as people aged over 45 years have still not turned up for their second doses. While 5.37 lakh second doses are pending for Covaxin, the figure for Covishield is 3.09 lakhs.

Of the 3.09 lakh people yet to take their second Covishield dose, 1.45 lakh are healthcare workers, 81,000 are frontline workers and 82,000 are in the 45-plus age group.

The reasons for a no-show for the second jab could be that some of those due are infected or have taken their second dose under a different Co-Win registration number.

Officials are also checking if any error in the app is causing the second dose, even if administered, to not reflect in their servers. Or there could be actual dropouts. Districts have been asked to inquire who these people are and why they have not taken the second dose.

On May 1, the state had begun vaccinating the 18-44 age group at government centres but subsequently discontinued the service, asking beneficiaries to get jabbed at private centres by paying for the doses.

Currently, Maharashtra is immunising two to three lakh people a day, with the private sector accounting for 40-50 per cent of daily immunisation.

Also Read: Centre allows walk-ins for 18-44 years at Govt Vaccine Centres; Here's all you need to know