MUMBAI: The state has no plans to procure or provide booster shots for people in the 18-59 age group from its coffers at the moment. The Centre had stated that those below 60 years of age could get the booster shot at private vaccination centres. However, in more than a dozen districts of the state, not a single private centre is offering vaccination, leaving people in this age band with no avenue to get the precautionary dose.
The state on Sunday reported 326 cases, the highest in 73 days. The previous high was 452, reported on March 10. Mumbai also reported a three-month high in cases on Sunday. Last time Mumbai had more than 234 cases was on Feb 17 (259).
As for the booster dose, states like New Delhi and Haryana have taken the onus on themselves to offer booster shots to the 18-59 age group. New Delhi government was the first to announce it would be provide booster doses to the younger age groups at government centres from its existing stocks, while Haryana government said it would spend Rs 300 crore on booster doses for this age group.
In Maharashtra, a senior state official said they don’t intend to procure any doses for those aged 18-59. “The Centre has not instructed us anything. Besides, we don’t think there is great demand for it,” the official said.
Dr Sachin Desai, state’s immunisation officer, said they have over a crore vaccine doses, but they are meant for people who haven’t taken their first and second doses. “...We cannot divert those doses meant for primary vaccination schedule to give boosters,” he said.
Beed civil surgeon Dr Suresh Sable said that since there is negligible demand for vaccination, private hospitals don’t want to invest in vaccines. “... the demand for vaccination has nearly disappeared,” he said.
In Mumbai, Jaslok Hospital has tied up with BMC to offer free vaccination for this group, under the CSR initiative, at Shashtrinagar in Dharavi. Assistant municipal commissioner of G north ward, Kiran Dighavkar, said that the response has been good.
