Pune: The Minister of Health of Rajesh Tope on Saturday said the status of “safe” on the Aarogya Setu application might be considered as permission for individuals who have taken a single dose of the Covid vaccine to participate in all activities at the Gods, especially due to a long gap between two Covishield’s shots.
“We will check the possibility of using the status on the Aarogya Setu application if someone has taken a single covishield dose, because the current gap between the two doses is 84 days.
If the case continues to remain low Post Diwali, we will discuss it with members of the task of the state and experts, “He told Ti.
Tope said he had approached the center of reducing the gap between two covishield doses, but the authority of the central government ruled out it.
Besides Maharashtra, several other countries are also approaching the center to reduce gaps.
A senior official of the Ministry of Health Union on Saturday said when there were no plans to change the gap between two covishield doses because scientific studies showed higher efficacy at a higher interval.
Other officials say that every change will be made based on scientific evidence and not on random demands.
Recently, the state government in the guidelines for reopening the cinema, theater and auditorium from October 22 with a capacity of 50% seating gives the “safe status” option to the Aarogya Setu application or Covid vaccination certificate as permission to enter the facility.
“Alternatives to show health status in the Aarogya Setu application are permitted because many cannot resolve covishield vaccination despite the availability of the gap almost three months between two doses,” said a state health official.
The country was allocated 1.8 doses of covishield crore for October to 39.74 lakh covaxin doses.
Nearly 57 Lakh beneficiaries will mature for the second dose of covishield in the coming month while 14 lakh will mature for the second Covaxin shot, said a state public health official.
Until October 15, the state had provided 9.07 doses of crore.
Of these, a total of 6.29 crores (70%) were given to the first dose recipient.
As many as 2.78 crores (30%) have been fully vaccinated in Maharashtra.
‘Post-diwali, safe aarogya status & 1 dose can open the door’
