Maharashtra State Task Force Advises Uddhav Govt To Pause 18-44 Vaccination In Maharashtra Till 1 June

Maharashtra state task force has advised the MVA led government to pause the vaccination drive for 18-44 years till 1 June, considering the shortage of vaccines in the state, reports Times of India.

Many districts had suspended vaccination for the 18-44 age group on Tuesday (11 May) evening, entirely.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it would continue to vaccinate the younger age group with Covishield.

Health Minister Rajesh Tope asked all centres across the state to reserve the Covid-19 vaccine meant to vaccinate the younger age group to be used for 45+ beneficiaries waiting to get their second shots.

“A demand for a state-level application was raised by CM Uddhav Thackeray in a meeting with PM. This app will be useful as the state wants to plan out its own vaccine strategy and add age-related filters for sequential vaccination for the 18-44 age-group,” an official told the reporters.

A total of 1.84 crore beneficiaries in the state have received at least one dose of vaccine as of yet.

There are still over 5 lakh people belonging to the 45+ age category waiting for the second dose of Covaxin, and the state only has 35,000 Covaxin doses remaining. Another 16 lakh people inoculated with Covishield are due for their second dose.