Aurangabad, May 29:
The state government had stopped the vaccination drive for citizens of age 18 years to 44 years claiming that the supply of vaccines was not adequate by the Central Government. Meanwhile, the vaccination for the citizens of this age group is underway in four private hospitals of the city for the past eight days. They are not administering the vaccine free of cost, but are charging between Rs 850 and Rs 900 for one dose of vaccine. A total of 791 citizens had taken their first dose of vaccine from these hospitals in the past eight days.
The free-of-cost vaccination drive for elderly citizens and others got started in the country on January 16, 2021. Later on, the drive for citizens of age 18 to 44 years was started from May 1, but the state government stopped the drive in 10 days as the supply of vaccine was not made in an adequate quantity from the Central Government. Presently, the vaccination is available for citizens of age above 45 years in the district (urban and rural areas). However, the facility of vaccination for citizens of age 18 to 44 years got started in four private hospitals for the past eight days. They are giving Covishield vaccine. It is not free of cost, but it is mandatory for the citizens to register their names on CoWin App. These four hospitals are charging in the range of Rs 850 and Rs 900 for one dose of the vaccine.
According to AMC sources, " These hospitals has sought permission from the government and directly purchased the vaccine from the manufacturing company and started the vaccination in the city."