Mumbai: No COVID-19 vaccine jab for delivery people under 45 years of age

As of now, delivery boys and auto drivers above 45 can only get vaccine shots

Delivery boys and auto and taxi drivers will not be vaccinated out of turn if they are not above 45 years of age, BMC officials have stressed. A set of guidelines issued by the state government on Sunday gave the impression that all such people could get the shots even if they do not fall in the given age brackets. Starting April 10, these individuals, who are ineligible at the moment, must carry a negative RT-PCR test report with a 15-day validity to continue their work.

Jyoti Hotel at Dadar TT barred entry of customers for dine-in and started parcel-only service from Monday itself. Pic/Suresh Karkera

"Essential shops owners and person working at all shops to get vaccinated at the earliest, as per criteria of GOl," reads one of the updated norms under the government's "Break the Chain" efforts. Though technically correct, sources said it could still prompt shop people to rush to vaccination centres since businesses are badly hit and they would want to do everything possible to stay afloat.

For delivery boys, shop workers, auto and taxi drivers who are below 45, the government has, however, allowed them to continue working provided they carry a negative RT-PCR test report with a validity of 15 days with them. This rule will be enforced from April 10.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said, "The state government's notification clearly mentions that the vaccination should be done as per the norms of GOI and as it is currently not allowed for the age below 45, we will not be administering it to those below the specified age group. However, if the GOI changes the norms and reduces the age limit then we will follow the same." On availability of stock of vaccines for citizens, Kakani said, "There is no worry about the vaccine doses and there is no shortage as of now as we have about 2.5 lakh doses with us."

52,740 beneficiaries take anti-Coronavirus shot on Monday

A total of 52,740 beneficiaries, including senior citizens, those aged 45 and above, and healthcare and frontline workers, were inoculated against Coronavirus at various civic and private vaccination centres across the city on Monday. There were 13,040 senior citizens, 37,113 people aged 45 and above, and 781 healthcare workers among those who got vaccinated on Monday. The number of frontline workers, who received their anti-COVID-19 shot, stood at 1,806. A total of 14,11,327 beneficiaries have been vaccinated so far, and out of these 1,64,238 have been fully vaccinated after receiving both the anti-COVID-19 vaccine shots.

10 April
Effective date of new norms for delivery boys and auto drivers

2.5 Lakh
Vaccine doses available with BMC at present