Covaxin third jab gets boost, 9 lakh doses to expire by January-end in Maharashtra

Pune: State officials have intensified the Covaxin booster drive to try and save nine lakh doses of the vaccine that are set to expire by the end of this month.

According to state data, there are over one crore beneficiaries due for a Covaxin booster dose. Encouragingly, turnouts at vaccination centres are slowly increasing, officials said, adding that CoWIN shows at least 4,000 booster doses are now being administered daily.

An official from the immunisation office said considering the state's reserves, the health department has told all vaccine sites to expedite their Covaxin drives.

Covaxin is not the only jab in demand. Several centres have also reported Covishield shortages, but fresh stock of this shot is expected to arrive from the Centre soon, officials said.

When asked about more Corbevax and Covaxin doses, the state official said Maharashtra so far has not placed any orders for fresh stock from the Centre.

Dr Sanjay Patil, chairperson of the Indian Medical Association's Hospital Board of India, Pune chapter, said response to Covid vaccination at private hospitals saw a sudden increase two weeks ago. "Due to waning protection from the vaccines, it is highly advised that adults should opt for these booster doses," he said.

Daily Covid-19 vaccination statewide showed slight improvements on Thursday, with a little over 3,800 shots administered. On some days towards the end of last year, daily coverage had dropped to the low three digits. The renewed response ended up exhausting the state's reserves of Covishield and Corbevax doses at government-run sites.