Daily average vaccination in Maharashtra has been oscillating between 10,000 and 1 lakh doses. The state has 60 lakh doses of Covishield, 34 lakh doses of Covaxin and 54 lakh doses of Corbevax in stock, TOI has learnt. Dr Sachin Desai, state immunisation officer, confirmed Maharashtra’s stock. “In addition to Covishield and Covaxin, we recently received stocks to vaccinate the 12-14 age group with both shots,” he said. The good news is that the vaccines have a shelf life till early 2023.
Teen vaccination and precautionary doses are largely making up the daily immunisation count while the adult vaccination drive has stagnated. However, even in these groups the pace is not impressive. A month since the vaccination for 12-14 year olds started, barely 47% have taken the first shot. Mumbai continues to be the poorest performer having covered just 17% of children with a single shot.
Maharashtra is lagging several states when it comes to inoculating 15-17 year olds, a drive that began in January this year. Till now, only 63% have taken the first shot and 42% have taken the second dose. Only one district, Bhandara, has reached 80% first dose coverage. Even in this age group, Mumbai has been one of the poor performers, with just 56% taking the first dose and 42% both doses.
Dr Rahul Pandit, a member of the state Covid task force, said: “Those who are eligible should finish their vaccine schedule for their own protection.” Several experts have harped on vaccination in the backdrop of cases rising in states like Delhi and Haryana.
Adult vaccination, crucial to keep hospitalisation and deaths under control, is yet to see saturated coverage in Maharashtra: single dose has been given to 92% and both to 75%. Just four districts have covered their all the adults with a single shot, while only one district, Mumbai, has given both shots to 100%.
Dr Shashank Joshi, another member of the task force, said vaccine uptake is always high when a wave coming. Although a large section has acquired hybrid immunity through exposure to the virus and vaccination, those eligible should finish both shots.
