Coronavirus | Maharashtra govt. gives nod to free vaccination of citizens above 18 years

Health Minister Tope says third phase will not start on May 1 owing to vaccine paucity

While officially announcing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government’s decision to provide free vaccination for all citizens between 18-44 years, State Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said that the government could not commence on the third phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive from May 1 owing to the sheer paucity in the number of available vaccine doses. Following an important cabinet meeting today, Mr. Tope said that the State exchequer would be bearing the estimated expenditure of ₹6,500 crore to inoculate around 5.71 crore citizens in the 18-44 age group. The government planned to complete the drive over the next six months, informed the Health Minister. “The State cabinet has unanimously taken the decision to provide free vaccination to all its citizens above 18 years in the third phase of the vaccination programme. To achieve this, the government needs to purchase at least 12 crore vials, while administering 2 crore vaccine doses each month in order to complete this drive over the next six months,” he said.