Unless the state govt assured that Mumbai had an adequate vaccine doses for people in the age group of 18-44 years, the BMC may not roll out the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the city on May 1.
Principal Health Secretary Dr Pradeep Vyas was quoted by media reports saying "it was a policy under discussion". BMC commissioner I S Chahal said, he was willing to face criticism for his stance, but the decision was 'practical'.
Mumbai has an estimated 50-60 lakh population that falls in the 18-44 age bracket, and hence the tentative doses required would be 1.2 crore. To prevent overcrowding at vaccination centres in the city, the BMC has decided that starting May 1, govt and civic vaccination centres will vaccinate only citizens over 45 years of age, while those in the 18 to 44 years age group will be vaccinated at private hospitals.