Adar Poonawalla has assured 'maximum support': CMO Maharashtra on vaccination

Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the country with 6,94,480 active cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Serum Institute of India (SII) has assured Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray of 'maximum support' in vaccinating the people in the state at the earliest, chief minister's office (CMO) said on Saturday. Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the country with 6,94,480 active cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray (Satish Bate/Hindustan Times)

"CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has been assured of maximum support by Mr Adar Poonawalla and the Serum Institute of India to ensure maximum vaccination at the earliest in the State of Maharashtra," the CMO tweeted.

"We are proud to have a world-class institution like Serum Institute of India in our state and we look forward to a strategic partnership for the safety of our citizens from Covid-19," it said in another tweet.

Covishield, the Covid-19 vaccine produced by the SII, is one of the three anti-coronavirus vaccines approved for use in India. The other two are Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and the Russian manufacturer Gamaleya Research Institute's vaccine Sputnik V.

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Maharashtra's daily Covid-19 count has been over 60,000 for some time now and the state recorded 67,160 fresh infections on Saturday. With this, the total active cases in the state reached 6,94,480. As many as 63,928 people have died due to the virus in the state so far, according to the state health bulletin.

To curb this surge, Centre has asked states to ramp up their vaccination drive and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on several occasions reiterated the need to spread awareness among the masses and ensure people get both their doses of the vaccine.

May 1 onwards, everyone above the age of 18 will be considered eligible for getting a vaccination.