Corona vaccination breaks: Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh postpone 18+ vaccination, lack of vaccine supply is the biggest reason

The fourth and most important phase of the world’s largest vaccination program in India seems to be breaking. From May 1, the government has announced to vaccinate 18+ population of about 81 crore of the country. Already, major states affected by Corona, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have deferred vaccination. These states have taken this decision because of the delay in the supply of vaccine doses.

Vaccination program will be started in Rajasthan from May 15, but Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh have not told when they will start 18+ vaccination.

States have given these reasons:

Rajasthan: The government said that the serum institute has been given vaccine orders, but so far the institute has not responded to this order. The government said that 3.75 crore doses have been ordered to the institute, but it is not clear how long these doses will be received. The vaccine from the center is also not able to come continuously. In such a situation, vaccination of 18+ is not possible from May 1.

Maharashtra: Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that we will make 18+ vaccination free. For this, the state government will incur an expenditure of 6500 crores. There is a target of vaccinating 5.71 crore people within 6 months, but vaccination will not be started from May 1, because there is a shortage of vaccines. There has been no response from vaccine manufacturer Serum and Bharat Biotech.

Chhattisgarh: Bharat Biotech has told the state government that they will not be given vaccine before the last week of July. No answer can be found regarding serum from the vaccine as well. State Immunization Officer Dr. Amar Singh Thakur said that the government had ordered 25-25 lakh doses of both companies. The answer for biotech has arrived, but not the serum. Only on getting the answer will it be clear when the vaccination of 18+ will start.

Shah’s meeting on
vaccination In the meantime, the third stage of vaccination i.e. 18+ vaccination, Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting. There was a discussion on the availability, supply and planning of the vaccine. Apart from the Home Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Piyush Goyal and other ministers also attended the meeting. Cabinet Secretary, Secretary Pharma, and officials of the Ministry of Health were also present at the meeting.