Maharashtra to provide free vaccines for people in 18-44 age group, extend COVID-19 curbs by 15 days

The Maharashtra cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday decided to provide free COVID-19 vaccination to all the citizens of the state aged between 18 and 44 years.

Image courtesy: ANI

Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday (April 28) decided to provide free COVID-19 vaccination to all the citizens of the state aged between 18-44 years, said a statement from the CMO Maharashtra. Notably, the vaccination for people above 45 years is already free.

The cabinet also decided to extend lockdown-like restrictions in the state by 15 days

After the cabinet meeting, Maharashtra's Health Minister Rajesh Tope told the media that the citizens in the age group of 18 to 44 years of age in Maharashtra will be given the free vaccine. He, however, said that the vaccination will not start from May 1.

"Registration on CoWIN app will be compulsory for people aged 18-45 years, and the free vaccination will be available at the vaccination centers of Municipal Corporation and the Government Vaccination Center only," Tope said, requesting people to remain patient and do not rush at the vaccination centers.

Notably, there are about 5.71 crore people in the age group of 18 to 45 years in Maharashtra, and they will require about 120 million doses. The state government will have to bear a burden of around Rs 6500 crores to provide free vaccination to the people. 

With over 3.88 lakh more people receiving the COVID-19 jabs in Maharashtra, the overall immunisation count in the state has crossed 1.53 crore, a health official told PTI on Wednesday. At least 3,88,247 eligible people were inoculated on Tuesday, the official said.

Of them, 4,017 healthcare workers received the first dose of the vaccine, while 9,899 were given the second dose, he said. As many as 20,276 and 13,753 frontline workers were administered the first and second jabs, respectively, on Tuesday, the official said.

In the above 45-year category, 2,12,699 people received the first dose and 1,27,603 the second dose, the official said, adding 65,140 people were inoculated in Mumbai alone.

According to the Maharashtra health department, the state has inoculated a total of 1,53,37,832 people so far, including 25,15,076 in Mumbai alone. As many as 10,99,415 healthcare workers had received the first dose, while 6,09,790 had received their second dose, it was stated.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Rajesh Tope reportedly said the state may receive its supply of Covishield vaccine only after May 20. The availability of anti-COVID-19 vaccines is still a challenge and the state needs a week's quota delivered at one time to vaccinate the maximum number of people, he added.

With Agency Inputs)