The Brihanumumbai Municipal Corporation has kickstarted its agenda on looping in private hospitals to expand the COVID vaccination coverage in Mumbai slums. As per reports, the Additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC) of the civic body has held talks with a couple of medical institutes in the city who have assured of an adequate number of doses and their willingness to vaccinate slum-dwellers. This is set to further widen the scope of immunisation in the state capital, against the virus.

Mumbai witnesses a bumpy vaccination drive

The AMC informed that Mumbai's municipal authority is presently engaged in working out the mobilities of the plan.

It may gather information about the beneficiaries from ward offices and share it with the concerned hospitals, or it could create mobile or make-shift booths in the slum localities, the official added. Here, the AMC further highlighted that the private hospitals are ready to conduct vaccinations despite experiencing a resource crunch themselves. These would be relayed to the needy under the CSR wings of the hospital associations, read reports.

It may also be noted that Mumbai city is witnessing a severe resource crunch, where the vaccination drive is pacing through a bumpy ride. Reportedly, the civic body could not hold vaccination sessions for at least 5 days in July and had to limit the centres on several days to a shortage of doses. It may also be noted here that the list of people who have become eligible for the second shot but are unable to get it, is growing longer.

Maharashtra becomes the first state in the country to fully vaccinate over 1 crore people

Despite these hurdles, Maharashtra has reportedly, led a very consistent and effective vaccination drive. Officials on Monday stated that Maharashtra has lodged its name as the first and only state in the country to have attained more than one crore fully vaccinated people against COVID. "A total of 1,00,64,308 were fully vaccinated with the two doses of Covid-19 vaccine here till 4 PM today (Monday)," said Additional Chief Secretary.

The state has been administering an average of over 100,000 Covid-19 jabs daily while running the biggest inoculation drive at around 4,100 centres in 36 districts. As yet, it has successfully managed to provide up to 4,20,84,530 doses (including both first and second shots) as per Co-WIN reports. Of this, 3,18,30,548 people have received the first dose, while 1,02,53,982 have gotten both shots. The Chief Minister and the Health Minister also acknowledged and lauded the health machinery for being able to record the landmark figures.