As the incidence of COVID-19 infections are high among those in the age group of 20 to 40 years across in the Maharashtra, the state health minister Rajesh Tope has demanded that vaccination drive for all those who are 18 years and above should be carried out at the earliest.
Mr Tope said that at present 4.5 lakh people are being vaccinated every day in the state.
Tope also said that if the vaccine was supplied quickly and expeditiously, it would be possible to carry out vaccination faster.
It may be noted that MVA alliance partner Congress party state president Nana Patole already made a similar demand two days back.
While state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray wrote a letter to Prime Minister to allow vaccination of those above 25 years of age.
However, the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan speaking on the demand to vaccinate everyone above 18 years has expressed concern over the rising Covid infection in Maharashtra.
He criticized the Maharashtra government’s ‘sluggish’ and ‘lax administration’ for failing to curb the Covid ban.
Maharashtra ranks first in the country in terms of number of cases as well as death rate.
He said allegations of non-supply of Covid vaccines were baseless and that full attention was being paid to the supply of vaccines.