Even as the Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday, April 28, cleared the proposal to prove free vaccines to everyone between the age of 18 and 44 years, it is not yet clear whether the state will be able to start full-fledged vaccination from May 1.
According to reports, several states have spoken about a possible delay because Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have expressed an inability to supply doses immediately.
On Tuesday, April 27, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope had said that the state may receive its supply of 'Covishield' vaccine only after May 20.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has written to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers -- Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech -- about the state's vaccination requirements ahead of the next phase of the inoculation drive which starts on May 1.
While speaking about Maharashtra's vaccination drive for people between the ages of 18 to 45, state health minister Rajesh Tope on Tuesday said that about 12 crore vaccines would be required to fully vaccinate the adult population.
Moreover, Tope clarified that the vaccination for the coronavirus for the 18-44 age group will be available only in private centres when the next phase begins.
On the other hand, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had earlier stated that unless the city was assured of adequate vaccine doses for the population in the 18-44 age group by the state government, the civic body may not roll out the drive on May 1. He further added that he was willing to face criticism for his stand, but it was practical. Mumbai has an estimated 50-60 lakh population that falls in the 18-44 age bracket, and hence the tentative doses required would be 1.2 crores.
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