Mumbai Stops Vaccine Roll-Out Due To Stock Shortage, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh Also Cite Shortage

Just a day to go for the new, big phase of vaccination, Mumbai shut its vaccination drive for three days citing lack of adequate doses. Vaccination will not take place in Mumbai starting April 30 till May 2, the Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation has said. Centre has set May 1 as the date for beginning vaccination of 18 to 45-year-olds as younger people are seen to be particularly susceptible to the virus in its second wave. Though the daily surge figures in Mumbai has dipped, Maharashtra reported 66,159 new cases & 771 deaths on April 29. Besides Maharashtra, several other states, including Punjab, Delhi & Andhra Pradesh, have flagged low vaccine stocks. Punjab health minister Balbir Sidhu said the fresh round of vaccinations can begin only after they receive "up to 10 lakh doses", reported NDTV. The Health Minister of Delhi, Satyendar Jain, said the city "does not have vaccines" for the third phase & purchase orders have been placed with the manufacturers, reported ANI. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy that the vaccination drive for people aged 18 to 45 is expected to begin only in September, after completing the inoculation of those above the age of 45.