Weekly COVID-19 vaccine plan, time for opening CoWin slots dependent on vaccine availability: Maharashtra government to Bombay High Court

In an affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra government has said that it will publish a weekly vaccination plan in some districts including Mumbai, as per the availability of COVID-19 vaccines..It, however, clarified that the vaccination schedule cannot be notified for all districts, as there was a lack of supply of vaccines by manufacturers..Through the affidavit filed by the Commissioner of Health Department, Mumbai, the government has agreed to certain suggestions made by petitioner Yogeeta Vanzara in relation to the challenges faced by citizens of Mumbai in obtaining COVID-19 vaccination appointments through the CoWin app..In the previous hearing, Advocate Jamsheed Master appearing for Vanzara informed the Court that districts like Kolhapur, Nandurbar and Gadchiroli published slots for vaccines in advance.The present affidavit clarified that the weekly vaccination plan was released till sufficient stock was available.However, after the supply of vaccine was reduced, the authorities have not been able to prepare a weekly plan in this districts as well..The State government also agreed to the suggestion to have a predetermined time for opening bookings for vaccination slots.It stated in the affidavit that appropriate directions would be issued to all districts and municipal corporations to ensure that vaccination slots are opened at a pre-determined time on the basis of availability of vaccine stocks so as to avoid inconvenience to citizens..The affidavit also stated that instructions will be issued to all district authorities to give priority to persons in the age group of 18 to 44 years of age with co-morbidities..The affidavit was filed in response to the direction of the Court to the State government to consider the suggestions made by Vanzara.The grievance raised in her petition was that since vaccination slots were not being disclosed before hand, citizens had to waste their time checking for slots through the day.