MAHA BECOMES 1ST STATE TO FULLY VACCINATE 1 CRORE

Maharashtra on Monday added yet another feather to its cap by becoming the first state in the country to administer both the doses of Covid vaccines to more than one crore people in the state. Over 3.16 crore people have been given the first dose of the vaccine.

More than 4.16 crore doses have been administered in Maharashtra with over a crore fully inoculated. On Monday, nearly four lakh people were administered the vaccines, said Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary (health).

A total of 1.7 crore beneficiaries in the age group of 45 and above have been given the first vaccine shot, while 74.28 lakh have received both the doses. In the 18-44 age group, total 1.04 crore people have got the first dose, while 4.5 lakh have received both the shots.

Of 21.13 lakh frontline workers who have got the first dose, more than 11 lakh have received both the doses. A total of 12.85 lakh healthcare workers have received the first dose. Of these, total 8.9 lakh beneficiaries have been given both the doses.

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Council had passed a resolution, asking the Centre to provide a minimum of three crore Covid-19 vaccine doses per month to the state to reduce the impact of a possible third wave of the viral infection.

The state machinery can vaccinate 10 lakh people per day if the doses were available by the Centre, said Health Minister Rajesh Tope.