“The main goal of vaccination” is to protect the health care system, the center said.
New Delhi:
Maharashtra has been asked to take “corrective actions” to improve its performance by vaccinating its health and front-line workers. The Center, which issued the order, had previously accused the state of spreading panic over the shortage of vaccines to divert attention from its poor vaccination history.
“Maharashtra has only vaccinated 86% of health workers with the first dose … 41% of health workers with the second dose. Among frontline workers, Maharashtra has only vaccinated 73% with the first dose … The vaccination of front-line workers with the second dose of Maharashtra is 41% … When it comes to the elderly, Maharashtra has vaccinated only 25%, ”Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said on Wednesday.
Accusing Delhi and the Punjab of having equally low figures, the Health Minister said: “The inability of the Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension … The disproportionate attitude of the state government has singularly hampered efforts. across the country to fight the virus. “
In the evening, a letter from Dr Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health to the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, said: “You are requested to take the necessary corrective actions immediately to improve the performance of the COVID-19 vaccine in your status / UT “.
Citing vaccination data in detail, the letter said it highlights the need for “intensified” efforts.
“The main goal of vaccination is to protect the health and pandemic response system, especially in states with an increase in COVID-19 cases,” the letter said.
On Wednesday, Maharashtra said its vaccine stocks are falling sharply. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope told NDTV: “Vaccine stocks in the state remain for only three days.”
“We don’t have doses at most of our vaccination centers and they had to close. They are sending people back for lack of doses,” the minister told Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Maharashtra has been the worst Covid patient since the pandemic hit the country last year.