Maharashtra govt demands 2.20 cr COVID-19 vaccine doses from Centre

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope has demanded 2.20 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses from the Centre for the ongoing vaccination drive in the state. He requested the Centre to supply 20 lakh doses per week to the state, as per a letter dated March 15 written to Union health minister by Tope, who went to Delhi on Tuesday.

"The state is planning to immunise 60-plus age group and 45-plus population with co-morbidities. It needs supply of 2.20 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine (Covishield and Covaxin) during the next three-and-a-half months. You are requested to supply 20 lakh doses per week to Maharashtra," Tope said in the letter.

Maharashtra has been the worst hit by the coronavirus infection in the country.

On Monday, Maharashtra reported 15,051 new cases of coronavirus, taking the state''s caseload to 23,29,464, while 48 fatalities took the death toll to 52,909, according to the health department.