Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had said the CM will soon make a decision over whether the state government will conduct the administration of vaccine free of cost to all residents above the age of 18 years.
Picture used for representational purpose. Pic:iStock
A state cabinet meeting chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday decided to provide free COVID-19 vaccination to all the citizens of Maharashtra aged between 18 and 44 years, stated a tweet by CMO Maharashtra.
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Today, the Cabinet under the leadership of CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has decided to provide free COVID-19 vaccination to all the citizens of Maharashtra aged between 18-44years.#BreakTheChain pic.twitter.com/Kv1vIyVEow
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 28, 2021
Aaditya Thackeray also posted on the micro-blogging website making the announcement.
The Govt of Maharashtra has decided to vaccinate all its citizens free of cost.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 28, 2021
This is not something that we think of as a choice, but a duty that we consider of utmost importance: protecting the citizens from Covid.
We are also ensuring that the procurement happens at the earliest so that we have ample vaccines to keep up the momentum of efficient, smooth, and fast vaccination of all citizens of Maharashtra.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 28, 2021
A safer Maharashtra is our way to ensure a safer India!
Likewise for other states.
3 days ago, I had deleted the tweet so as to not create a flutter with it. Now that the policy has been approved by the cabinet, this is the right time to share it formally, ensuring there is clarity and a sense of duty.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 28, 2021
A tweet posted by PIB in Maharashtra showed the distribution of vaccines across states, including Maharashtra, with reported wastage of vials and the balance remaining with states and union territories.
भारत सरकारने राज्ये/केंद्रशासित प्रदेशांना आतापर्यंत सुमारे 16 कोटी मोफत मात्रा पुरवल्या
— PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) April 28, 2021
राज्ये/केंद्रशासित प्रदेशांकडे अद्यापही 1 कोटीपेक्षा जास्त मात्रा उपलब्ध
याशिवाय येत्या 3 दिवसात राज्ये/केंद्रशासित प्रदेशांना 57 लाखापेक्षा जास्त मात्रा मिळणार
📙https://t.co/u4tH3jhGy1 pic.twitter.com/fqc5oQQBhm
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had said the CM will soon make a decision over whether the state government will conduct the administration of vaccine free of cost to all residents above the age of 18 years.
On Sunday, Maharashtra minority minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik made the announcement of vaccinating all beneficiaries above the age of 18. He had said that the idea was discussed in the state cabinet. He added that global tenders will also be invited for the vaccination process.
The Centre on April 19 had announced a ''liberalised'' policy, making all above 18 years of age eligible to get vaccinated from May 1. It has also allowed state governments and private hospitals to purchase vaccines from manufacturers.
As per the central government, manufacturers of Covid-19 vaccines will be free to supply 50 per cent doses to state governments and in the open market, for which they will have to make an advance declaration of the price before May 1.
(with agency inputs)