The confusion around Maharashtra’s vaccination drive continues to loom with the MVA leaders sharing fragmented updates.
On Tuesday Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar informed that a decision over whether the state government will allow free administration of the Covid-19 vaccine to all residents above the age of 18 is yet to be taken by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
“I have signed a proposal for free vaccines. The chief minister will decide based on the interest of the people. Tomorrow, in the cabinet meeting, we will discuss the issue of global tenders for vaccine procurement,” Pawar said in a media interaction.
CM will take a decision on the free vaccination for all, soon. I have signed a proposal for free vaccines. CM will decide on it in the interest of the people…Tomorrow in the cabinet meet, we will discuss the issue of the global tender for vaccine procurement: Maharashtra Dy CM pic.twitter.com/aPJupEEpuD
— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2021
With just three days to go for the commencement of the Phase 03 vaccination drive in India, the MVA government is likely to take a decision in this regard by 12:30 pm this afternoon.
Aditya Thackeray retracts Tweet
Adding to the confusion, Shiv Sena yuva leader Aditya Thackeray on April 25 had announced through Twitter that the government of Maharashtra has decided to vaccinate its citizens free of cost. The tweet read, “This is not something we think of as a choice, but a duty that we consider of utmost importance.”
The Tweet was deleted within a span of 30 minutes. Aditya Thackeray soon put out another Tweet apologizing to the citizens for creating confusion and said, “The official policy of vaccination will be declared by the empowered committee and we must await it’s recommendation for a fair policy for all sections of society.”
The official policy of vaccination will be declared by the empowered committee and we must await it’s recommendation for a fair policy for all sections of society. My apologies for the confusion if it all it may have caused.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 25, 2021
Maharashtra might witness a delay in vaccination drive
In another update, the BMC on Tuesday announced that inoculation of beneficiaries from the 18-44 age group will be carried out only at private vaccination centres in Mumbai.
Registration for vaccination for all those aged 18-44 years will begin at 4 pm today, however, the citizens of Maharashtra are yet not sure whether or not do they have to pay for the vaccine dose when made available.
The state health officials also cited a possibility of delay in commencing the Phase 03 vaccination due to the ongoing shortage of vaccine doses. Mumbai’s jumbo Covid-19 vaccination facility was seen shut today due to the non-availability of the stock.
BKC jumbo #COVID19 vaccination centre in Mumbai has run out of stock thus it is not active today. It will open for vaccination as soon as the stock is replenished: BMC
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2021
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/8Wftv8jzHM
The centre will open for vaccination as soon as the stock is replenished, informed the BMC.
