Maharashtra send vaccine SOS to Centre as stocks run out
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Mumbai: Maharashtra sends urgent notice to the centre as the state is running out of Covid-19 vaccine stocks at various vaccination centres, said state's Health Minister Rajesh Tope, as reported by NDTV on Wednesday.
"Stocks of vaccine in the state remain only for three days. We have requested the centre to send more vaccine. This is the state with the highest number of cases coming every day. In Mumbai also stocks only remain for three days," Mr Tope said.
"Today 14 lakh doses are available, which means there is only three days' stock. So every week we need 40 lakh doses that are if we vaccinate 5 lakh every day," added Tope.
As per the reports, The minister has informed Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan of the situation in a video conference on Tuesday.
Mumbai's civic body BMC has also admitted that the Covid shots are "about to" get over in the city.
"The vaccine stock in Mumbai is about to get over. We are giving most of the doses to government hospitals. We only have one lakh plus Covishield doses left. There is a bit of a shortage. Rajesh Tope has spoken to the Center on this," said Kishori Pednekar, Mumbai Mayor.
Maharashtra's Principal Secretary (Health) Pradeep Vyas also responded to the situation saying "Many districts will run out of the stock today or tomorrow. The Centre is aware of the situation and (we) have also communicated in writing," as reported by Press Trust of India.
Maharashtra could easily administer five lakh vaccine shots in a day if there was clarity on schedule and availability, he added.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding 1.5 crore more doses of vaccines to help Maharashtra vaccinate people above 45 in six districts including Mumbai, within three weeks.
CM has also requested to widen the vaccination drive to all above 25 years, citing the need to protect young people stepping out of their homes to earn a living.
Maharashtra has vaccinated nearly 82 lakh people since the inoculation drive started in January. Over the last few days, the state has been vaccinating about four lakh people daily.