MUMBAI: The suspension of free vaccination by government agencies for people between 18 and 44 years for most of May and June has led to a massive disparity within districts in the proportion of population covered.
Districts with a higher concentration of private hospitals such as Mumbai, Pune and Thane have marched ahead of others that didn’t have similar access to doses. Of the 71.1 lakh doses given covering 12% to the 18-44 year olds in the state, nearly 60% has been in Mumbai, Pune and Thane (see box). Mumbai is at the top of the chart having vaccinated nearly 20 lakh and covered a third of this population with a single dose. The majority of these vaccinations happened in the private sector.
State data shows only 11 of the 35 districts have managed to vaccinate more than 10% of this population, considered more mobile and crucial for the opening of economic activities in the state.
On May 1, the Centre opened vaccination for all adults, but the state government took a call to suspend vaccination for 18-44 years from May 12 to prioritise the vaccination of people above 45. Free vaccination for 18-44 years olds resumed only on June 21. Private hospital chains that could procure doses carried out inoculations through May and June.
A state official said the Centre’s policy of allowing private players to procure their own doses created the difference in coverage between districts as rural districts with not many private hospitals lost out. “Besides availability, hesitancy too is playing a role, which districts must combat using effective communication,” he said. Dr Subhash Salunkhe, an adviser to the state government, said the state must vaccinate people from all age groups if the third wave’s impact has to be minimised.
Kolhapur has emerged as a unique example in vaccination. It is at the top of the coverage chart for people above 45, inoculating 70% with at least one dose. But it is struggling when it comes to the 18-44 age group. “As we get more doses, these numbers will improve. Also, we are seeing a very high transmission rate and volume of new positive cases, mainly from the younger age brackets. Hence, their vaccination numbers are low since they have recently been exposed,” a senior district official said.
Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, said private hospitals in Mumbai had received 19 lakh doses in May and 12 lakh in June which helped in the vaccination of the 18-44 year olds.
In the age groups above 45, the state has completed administering at least one dose to 43% of the population.
