NEW DELHI: The Government of India on Wednesday, April 8, wrote to the governments of Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi regarding below-par vaccination of people including health workers. Manohar Agnani, Additional Health Secretary, Government of India, said in the letter to the above mentioned states and union territories (UTs) that their performance is below the national average and it needs urgent improvement.
The states and UTs were directed to take immediate necessary actions to contribute towards improving the COVID-19 vaccination drive in their area. The letter was written after the strong words of Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, about Maharashtra and its carelessness in containing the pandemic.
Replying to this, Rajesh Tope, Minister of Health, Government of Maharashtra, said that a lot of inoculation centres had to be shut due to the shortage of vaccines in the state and they have just 14 lakh jabs which would last just three to four days. He added that the state needs around 40 lakh vaccines every week and the present numbers are not enough.