In Maharashtra, many netas want vaccine first

At a time when vaccine makers are vying to become the first to launch a Covid-19 cure, a different race of sorts appears to be underway among influential politicians and senior police officials in Maharashtra – to be among the first to receive the vaccine.
District and civic officials told ET they are facing pressure from politicians to include their names as well as those of their family members in the lists of frontline personnel being prepared across the state to be administered the vaccine on priority as soon as it is authorised for use.

The Maharashtra government had asked district and civic administrations across the state in September to prepare lists of frontline personnel with their names and designations, so that they could receive the vaccine first.

“Under the norms, politicians do not come under the ambit of ‘frontline personnel’. But they are arguing that since they are also in the front line of meeting common people every day, they are at high risk and should be considered as frontline workers. They also want to include their family members,” said a Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) official, who did not wish to be identified.

Senior officials said similar demands are being made in Pune and Nagpur too.

“Not just now, we also got several calls during the third phase of the Serum-Oxford vaccine trial, and not just from politicians. Several top IPS officers also wanted to be part of the third phase trial in order to get the vaccine dose before everyone else,” said an official from Pune.