Centre Asks Maharashtra To Take "Corrective Action" To Step Up Vaccination

"You are kindly requested to undertake necessary corrective actions immediately for improving the performance of COVID-19 vaccination drive in your state/UT," the Centre wrote to Maharashtra

Maharashtra has been asked to take "corrective action" to improve its performance in vaccinating its healthcare and frontline workers. The Centre, which issued the order, had earlier accused the state of spreading panic about vaccine shortage to divert attention from its poor vaccination record. "Maharashtra has vaccinated just only 86% of health workers with first dose... 41% of healthcare workers with second dose. Among frontline workers, Maharashtra has vaccinated only 73% with first dose...  Vaccination of frontline workers with second does for Maharashtra is at 41%... When it comes to senior citizens, Maharashtra has vaccinated just 25%," Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said today. Accusing Delhi and Punjab of having equally low figures, the health minister said, "The inability of Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension... The lackadaisical attitude of the state government has singularly bogged down the entire country's efforts to fight the virus". In the evening, a letter from Dr Manohar Agnani, the Additional Secretary in the Union Health ministry to Maharashtra's Principal Secretary said, "You are kindly requested to undertake necessary corrective actions immediately for improving the performance of COVID-19 vaccination drive in your state/UT".