MUMBAI: A record number of 9.36 lakh people across the state were vaccinated on Saturday on the eve of Independence Day. In Mumbai, the BMC’s vaccine update said 2.19 lakh people had been inoculated, but the tally included shots given by the private sector on Thursday and Friday as well (when the BMC had to cancel its drive due to shortage of vaccines).
The previous records were 8.11 lakh for the state on July 3 and 1.54 lakh for Mumbai on June 26.
State officials said that Saturday’s feat showed that Maharashtra continued to be at the forefront of vaccination in India. It is now closer to becoming the first state in the country to give out 5 crore shots. “Till 7pm, we had vaccinated 9.36 lakh people and the numbers may increase,’’ additional chief secretary (health) Dr Pradip Vyas said said.
State officials have maintained that there is adequate infrastructure to give out nine to 10 lakh shots each day. “The state has a capacity of at least 10 lakh vaccinations per day and this has been proved by the record number of vaccinations given today,’’ Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said.
Tope said, “Vaccination is an important weapon to prevent corona, and if supply of vaccines is maintained, a similar number of citizens can be vaccinated in the state.’’
The BMC’s vaccine update on Saturday said the 2.19 lakh tally includes cumulative figures of vaccinations done on previous two days and Saturday until 7pm. Of the 2.19 lakh shots given in Mumbai on Saturday, 90,102 were given at public centres, while the remaining 1.29 lakh were administered at private centres. The numbers include 370 bedridden beneficiaries who were vaccinated at home.
Vaccination at public centres, which had stopped for two days, resumed on Saturday in Mumbai after BMC received 1.7 lakh doses from the state. “We are scheduled to get more vaccines later in the day,’’ said BMC additional commissioner Suresh Kakani, adding that the stocks should last for three days. He said BMC had decided to give out the highest number of vaccination whenever stocks are available.
On Sunday, BMC vaccination centres will be shut and resume work on Monday.
