18-44 age group can now get vaccinated
In Pune, vaccinations for people aged 18 to 44 will resume, but only in private hospitals. Vaccinations in the 18-44 and over 45 age groups are to be administered by private hospitals. In government-run healthcare facilities, however, vaccines are not provided to people aged 18 to 44. On the other hand, private hospital officials said there was still no clarification on vaccines for people aged 18 to 44.
Private hospitals that have been permitted to begin vaccinations for this age group can do so only after making an appointment via the Cowin app. While appointment sessions must be established on the Cowin app, an age data field is set to 45 by default. However, when administering the vaccine dose, the hospital administrator can change this to any number between 18 and 44.
Private hospitals have begun receiving their initial batches of doses after placing purchase orders with Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech International Limited. The first batch of doses will be delivered to hospitals in Pune on Thursday. Bharati Hospital, Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Noble Hospital, Ruby Hall Hospital, Sahyadri Hospital, and Poona Hospital are among the hospitals that will receive the doses between Thursday and next week.
Status of vaccination in the area
According to state health department data, beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group have also begun to be vaccinated in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and Dhule, and according to state health department data, more than 6,000 beneficiaries in this age group are being vaccinated daily at some private hospitals in these districts.
In Maharashtra, a total of 2.02 crore people was vaccinated by May 18. Although the third phase of vaccination for this age group began on May 1 at government-run centres, it had to be halted due to a shortage of doses and the prioritization of vaccinating beneficiaries over 45 who required the second dose.
1.2 crore beneficiaries in the 45+ age group in the state have received the first dose, with 28.39 lakh receiving both doses. The first dose has been given to 6.61 lakh beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group. In this age group, Pune administered the first dose to 49,377 beneficiaries, while Mumbai vaccinated 68,241 people. A total of 56,840 people in this age group have been vaccinated in Thane.
There are further plans of establishing a drive-through Covid vaccination service run by private hospitals with the support of the Pune Municipal Corporation.
