The Maharashtra state health department has instructed the district administrations to administer the Covishield and Covaxin doses nearing the expiry date on priority. 

According to state statistics, over 27 lakh Covishield doses and 5,890 Covaxin doses are expected to expire by September. The state presently has access to 27 lakh doses of Covishield and 34 lakh doses of Covaxin.

In a letter to the district offices, Dr Nitin Ambadekar, the additional director of health services, suggested ensuring the use of all doses of the Covid-19 vaccine nearing expiry by the end of September on priority during the 75-day "Covid Vaccine Amrut Mahotsav," which began on Friday and was providing free precautionary doses to adults at government vaccination facilities.

9,037 precautionary doses were provided in the Pune district up to 5 p.m. on the first day of the Covid Vaccine Amrut Mahotsav, while 1,02,692 doses were given throughout the state. (ETHealthWorld, July 16, 2022)