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The state of Maharashtra is set to commence vaccinating people between 30-44 years of age from June 19, Saturday and will continue this programme for over a month. These initiative was taken after the free immunization for the younger groups were discontinued. The BMC confirmed that in Mumbai the vaccination for this age group will be conducted in 10 centers through online appointment.
As yet, individuals between 18-44 years of age could only avail their vaccination at the private vaccination centers when the government suspended the immunization for them on May 12. The immunization was suspended to focus on those individuals who are due for their second dose and those above 45 years of age.
The director of the State Health services, Archana Patil affirmed that state have around 15 lakh doses to support the drive. She further disclosed that the state has been vaccinating an average of 2.9 lakh people from the previous week.
On Friday, Mumbai achieved a milestone as it reached one million vaccination of people between the age 18-44 years since it commenced the drive on May 1st. As per data, Mumbai has around 59 lakh people in the age group of 18-44 years, among whom almost 31 lakh are between 30-44 years.
Altogether, 10.1 lakh doses have been directed to people in the age group of 18-44 years. Around 9.1 lakh has been with the private sectors. According to reports, inequity in vaccine surfaced in June when most of the vaccination occurred in private hospitals with the price of every dose ranging from Rs 780 to Rs 1400. However, it is confirmed that age group under 30 years can get vaccinated at private centers.
The centres that will conduct the vaccination for those between 30-44 years in Mumbai include Priyadarshini Park (Walkeshwar) BMC Murli Deora Eye Hospital (Kamathipura), Acworth Leprosy (Wadala), Seth Ayurvedic (Sion), Bandra Bhabha (Bandra), MW Desai (Malad), Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule (Borivali), Jolly Gymkhana (Ghatkopar) Deonar Maternity Home (Govandi), and V D Savarkar (Mulund)
BMC’s executive health officer, Dr. Mangala Gomare explained that the vaccination process will happen only through online appointments on Saturday. He further affirmed that on Friday 61,710 people got vaccinated, accounting that the Mumbaikars who got vaccinated with one dose are nearly 43.9 lakh.
Health Minister, Rajesh Tope asserted that vaccination of citizen above 45 years of age will also continue. He further informed that public health department had handed in a proposal in the month of May requesting for subsquential vaccination for 18-44 years. thereby, those at a higher risk of severe COVID and its death get fully vaccinated at first. Dr Patil confirmed that variations will be made in the Co-Win app so that the default minimum age is altered to 30 years.