A day after the Centre cited Maharashtra as being a ‘state of concern’ because of its rising corona cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray skipped the virtual meeting of CMs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Thackeray’s absence was the subject of much speculation in state politics.
However, after the meeting, Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope, who represented the state government, clarified that the CM did not attend the meeting on Thursday in keeping with medical advice – doctors had told the CM it would not be advisable for him to sit for over two hours at a stretch, as he is still recovering from his recent spine surgery.
However, the state government cut a sorry figure as Tope, who was hoping to speak and make a slew of demands, did not get the chance. Ultimately, he had to make a written representation to the Centre, seeking urgent help on the supply of vaccines to administer jabs to eligible beneficiaries in the 15-18 years’ age group.
“It was decided that only chief ministers would speak at the meeting. Therefore, it was not possible for me to speak and make a slew of demands. The state government had sought permission for me to speak during the virtual meeting but it did not happen. Therefore, we submitted our demands in writing,” said Tope.
The minister explained that he was asked to be present at the meeting as the CM preferred to stick with his doctor’s advice. “Doctors had advised that it would not be medically proper for the CM to sit continuously for two to three hours. Thereafter, the CM preferred to skip the meeting,” Tope said.
Tope said the government has demanded additional doses of Covaxin. “The government has urged the Centre to supply 40 lakh Covaxin and 50 lakh Covishield vaccine doses under the universal immunisation programme. This is needed as we are experiencing shortage of doses for administering to health workers and for the 15-18 years age group,” he said.
Meanwhile, state BJP president Chandrakant Patil expressed serious displeasure over the CM's absence from the PM’s meeting. “What exactly is going on with the CM? He has been absent from Mantralaya, also from the winter session and was now absent at the important meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. Is he concerned about the people of the state or not?” he demanded to know.
There are 32,48,205 Covaxin doses available in Maharashtra as on Thursday, which can last for 11 days with an average daily consumption of 3.01 lakh jabs, sources in the Union Health Ministry said, in the wake of state Health Minister Rajesh Tope complaining about the shortage of Covid vaccines.
Similarly, as on January 13, the state had an available balance of 1,34,02,420 Covishield doses, which would take on average 33.91 days to exhaust, sources said.
On Wednesday, Tope had pointed out that there has been a shortage of doses since the vaccination for the 15-18 years age group and the exercise of administering precaution doses to healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities had begun.
But according to health ministry sources, Covaxin vaccine availability in the state as on January 3 was 59,12,100. Additionally, 17,18,100 doses had been supplied till January 11, they said.
The state collected 7,49,710 Covaxin doses from the Government Medical Store Depot, Mumbai on Thursday.
6,35,000 doses were also in transit from Bharat Biotech India Ltd that were scheduled to arrive by Thursday evening, sources said.
“So, the total available Covaxin doses on January 13 is 18,63,496 plus 6,35,000, plus 7,49,710, which adds up to 32,48,205 doses. The average daily consumption of Covaxin is 3.01 lakhs and there is vaccine available for almost 11 days,” the sources said.
On Covishield, the sources said as on January 13, the state had an available balance of 1,34,02,420 doses. The average coverage in the last 30 days (up to January 12) was 3,95,216 doses.
“Hence, the number of days required to exhaust the existing balance with the January average is 33.91 days,” the sources said.
