On Wednesday, April 28, the Maharashtra government decided that it would provide vaccination for the coronavirus free of cost to all its citizens aged between 18 and 44 in the third phase of the nationwide vaccination drive.
Today, the Cabinet under the leadership of CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has decided to provide free COVID-19 vaccination to all the citizens of Maharashtra aged between 18-44years.#BreakTheChain pic.twitter.com/dzgmCLEDGT
— Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) April 28, 2021
The decision was taken during a meeting of the state cabinet on Wednesday. Moreover, the state government will require 12 crore doses to conduct free vaccinations in the state. Accordingly, 2 crores more doses will have to be procured per month. In addition, this will cost INR 6,500 crores and has been sanctioned by the state government.
State Health Minister Rajesh Tope further informed that the health department has 13,000 institutions. Under this, 13 lakh people can be vaccinated every day in the state. Moreover, the rate of wastage of vaccine in Maharashtra is 1 per cent and it is less than the rate of 6 per cent in the country.
However, Tope added that the vaccination programme is unlikely to begin from May 1 because of lack of vaccine availability, but said the state was committed to conducting the programme vigorously.
On the other hand, the coronavirus-induced lockdown in Maharashtra is to get extended till May 15, in view of coronavirus cases. According to reports, stringent curbs have been imposed in the state since April 21 to reduce the pace of COVID-19 transmission. In addition, the decision to extend the lockdown was finalised in the same State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today.
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