The Indian state of Maharashtra has been forced to shut down a number of vaccination centers due to a shortage of Covid-19 vaccines. The exact number of closed vaccination centers is unclear at this point.
“We have shut down a few of the vaccination centers,” the Maharashtra state health minister Rajesh Tope told CNN. “Because of the unavailability (of vaccines) from the central government, we are unable to cater to the needs of every center here.”
Maharashtra currently has 4,200 vaccination centers, which have the capacity to vaccinate up to 800,000 people per day. However, the state has been receiving a maximum of 200,000 vaccines each day, Tope said.
“If we could get proper supply or quantity for the entire week, we can show our full potential,” he added.
Tope also said the state is also considering postponing the vaccination drive, which is scheduled to start on May 1 for all adults above 18 years of age.
“We had actually written to both Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, but they are at present not able to supply the quantities we want,” Tope said.
The state will receive only 500,000 doses of Covaxin and none of Oxford’s AstraZeneca for the month of May for the 18 to 44-year age group.
“The government of India should ensure the appropriate supply. There is a real requirement and demand in the state. It is their duty to ensure that Maharashtra gets the amount of vaccines that we demand…The only strategy we have is to vaccinate people,” Tope said.
