If vaccination slows down, Maharashtra likely to pave way for third way: Experts

The health experts have suggested that a slowdown in the ongoing vaccination drive in Maharashtra, which is helping in settling a surge in COVID-19 cases, will potentially pave the way for a third wave of infection in the state.

The warning came on a day when the Maharashtra government said it is not going to start the vaccination drive from May 1 for the 18-44 age group because of the unavailability of sufficient doses.

Maharashtra is one of the worst-hit states by the pandemic and it is witnessing shortage of doses for the existing beneficiaries (45-plus people), putting the inoculation drive on a slow track.

However, Health Minister Rajesh Tope has already expressed concern over the inadequate supply of vaccines for Maharashtra.

The true curbing of COVID-19 can happen only if two-thirds of the population eligible for vaccination is covered under the inoculation drive, experts mentioned, adding that if the state does not accelerate the pace of vaccination, sooner or later people will venture out for jobs and other work and this could invite the third wave of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, an official from the state health department said that out of nine crore people eligible for vaccination in Maharashtra, over 1.50 crore people have been covered so far, which is negligible.

Moreover, Tope on Wednesday, April 29, said that the Maharashtra government is unlikely to get vaccines from Bharat Biotech or Serum Institute of India before May 20.

Hence, the state government cannot start vaccination for the 18-44 age group from May 1.

A member of the state task force on COVID-19 said with more vaccines in hand, Maharashtra could have inoculated a large number of people.

A Congress leader said the COVID-19 situation is alarming but "we are wasting a golden opportunity to inoculate as many people as possible in the summer".

Relaxation of measures in December made people careless and this triggered the second wave of COVID-19 from February. In April so far, the state has added 15,53,922 fresh COVID-19 cases and 11,281 deaths.