Panvel COVID-19 vaccination drive halted due to unavailability of vaccines

In an unfortunate development, the COVID-19 vaccination drive was paused in the Panvel area of Maharashtra, due to the unavailability of vaccines.

According to the official notification issued by the Panvel Municipal Corporation, "Vaccination drive temporarily halted in all government and private inoculation centres in Panvel, due to unavailability of COVID-19 vaccines. Centres will be reopened once vaccines are back in stock."

On the other hand, according to reports, about 109 vaccination centres remained shut in Pune due to a shortage of vaccines for the coronavirus. Moreover, several people had to return home without getting vaccinated.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, April 8, NCP president Sharad Pawar stated the Centre has assured to help Maharashtra where the COVID-19 situation is currently "grim". In a live address on Facebook, Pawar, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress, said he spoke to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan earlier on Wednesday and the latter assured to support Maharashtra and other states to tackle the situation.

In addition, the NCP supremo stated that the health workers in Maharashtra were doing their best to contain the spread of the disease further adding that the state government has taken some steps, like imposing strict curbs to break the virus chain, on the advice of experts.

These comments come amidst the protests from traders and small businessmen against restrictions imposed by the state government. According to the state government's 'Break the Chain' order, all shops under the non-essential category will remain closed till April 30. The opposition BJP in Maharashtra has criticised the curbs after initially supporting the government's efforts.