State gets 479,000 Covaxin doses; in talks for Sputnik V

MUMBAI: The inoculation drive for people between ages 18 and 44 is expected to get a boost as the state government received nearly 500,000 doses.

Currently, the inoculation drive in the third phase is going on at limited centres and with limited doses across the state. Meanwhile, the state is still deliberating global tenders to procure vaccines from foreign manufacturers to boost the vaccination of the young people. The state government is in talks with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to procure Sputnik V doses.

On Tuesday night, health department officials said, the state received 479,000 doses of Covaxin from Bharat Biotech. Officials added the state will continue to keep the drive at limited centres to keep it sustained for a longer period.

“We have received 479,000 doses from Bharat Biotech. The vaccination centres for 18-44 age group will continue to be five per district, as it has to be a sustained drive with minimum wastage,” said DN Patil, state immunisation officer.

Patil added that the fresh stock of Covaxin has been dispatched to all districts and it will be used in the coming days. In Pune district, the stock was used on Wednesday to vaccinate people in the 18-44 category. On April 30, the state had received 300,000 vaccines from Serum

Institute of India, which helped the state start vaccinating the 18-44 category from May 1.

In the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday, ministers deliberated on procuring vaccine doses from foreign manufacturers, including Russia-made Sputnik V.

SATISH BATE/HT Citizens from the 45+ age group on their way to getting vaccinated in Goregaon on Wednesday.