Vaccine shortage: Distribute vaccine on basis of population & number of covid cases in state, advises Rajesh Tope to Centre

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Saturday requested the Centre to plan out a criteria for allotment of COVID-19 vaccines by taking into consideration factors like population and number of active coronavirus cases of a particular state.

Tope said that a lot of state that have smaller population and less covid cases have received more vaccine doses. 

Speaking to the reporters, He said that out of the latest dispatch of 3.5 crore doses by the Centre, Maharashtra received 7 lakh and the Centre added another 10 lakh "after much persuasion".

He said that more than half of the cases reported in the country are from Maharashtra then it must be given more vaccines."The Centre is not addressing these issues seriously," Tope alleged.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters that all political parties should set aside their differences and unite to save lives from coronavirus.

"An MLA from Nanded has died, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been hospitalised. The virus is attacking VIPs and common people alike. We need to unite to tackle the pandemic. The opposition should cooperate and give suggestions if the state government is falling short," he said.