Maharashtra to give covid vaccines to all its citizens for free: Nawab Malik

New Delhi: As India reported over three lakh cases of coronavirus for the fourth straight day today, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik announced that the state will vaccinate all citizens for free.

Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in the country by Covid, has been reporting over 60,000 daily coronavirus cases for the last few days. Adding that the move has been discussed with the state cabinet, Nawab Malik said global tenders will be floated for vaccinations.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray had earlier said that a third wave of COVID-19 was likely soon, though it cannot be determined now if it will be as strong as or weaker than the second wave. He also said that even if vaccination doesn’t help right away, it will help prepare for the future.

The Prime Minister, during a high-level meet to review the Covid situation, earlier this week stressed that vaccination was “the biggest weapon” in the fight against coronavirus and urged doctors to encourage more and more patients to get the jabs. The government on Monday said the vaccine net will be widened to all people above 18 years of age from May 1 as the country sees an exponential rise in Covid infections.