E-pass conditions push demand for Covaxin

If you choose Covaxin, you will be able to travel on the local train just after 45 days, but in the case of Covishield, it could take 99 days
After the state government’s ‘Break The Chain – Modified Guidelines’ cleared the decks for local train travel in Mumbai, the demand for Covaxin has suddenly increased. Under these guidelines, citizens who have completed at least 14 days after being administered a second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine will be eligible for the e-pass facility for travel in local trains from August 15.
The same requirement applies to entry in shopping malls.
According to Dr Rahul Ghule, who runs several One Rupee Clinics at suburban railway stations, the inquiries for Covaxin have suddenly increased after the guidelines were issued.
Not only Dr Rahul Ghule but another doctor,In the last three days, more than one lakh people who have completed both doses purchased the monthly season tickets for the travel in local trains which will be start services from August 15.
who is supervising the vaccination programme of a big private hospital in the city, said, “After the new guidelines were issued by the state government, the demand for Covaxin increased because of less time lag between its doses.”
“If you choose Covaxin, you will be able to travel in the local train just after 45 days, but in the case of Covishield, it will take at least 99 days,” he said.
The minimum gap between two doses of Covaxin is just 30 days but in the case of Covishield, the beneficiaries need to wait at least 84 days for their second dose.
“Travel by local train shall be allowed for frontline health workers, essential service workers and citizens who have received both doses of Covid vaccine and have completed 14 days after the second dose,” reads the order issued by Sitaram Kunte, chief secretary of the state. These guidelines will be applicable from August 15.
“All shopping malls in the state are allowed to remain open till 10 pm on all days, provided all citizens entering the mall and all employees, including the managers and housekeeping staff, have a valid Covid vaccination certificate of having received the second dose and 14 days must have elapsed since the second dose of the Covid vaccine. All customers need to show their final Covid vaccination certificate with photo identity proof at the entry point of the mall,” the order said.
In the last three days, more than one lakh people who have completed both doses purchased the monthly season tickets for the travel in local trains which will be start services from August 15.
According to the data provided by the BMC till August 10, 2021, only 5.24 lakh doses of Covaxin were administered in the city, while 71.11 lakh doses of Covishield were given in the same period. Out of these, 16.94 lakh beneficiaries of Covishield completed both doses. However, till August 10, only 2.14 lakh beneficiaries of Covaxin completed both doses.
How to get an e-pass online?
The Relief and Rehabilitation Department of the Maharashtra government has already developed a web link to provide e-passes to employees and citizens working in the essential services. Using the same web link, e-passes will now be available to common citizens, those who are fully vaccinated and have completed 14 days after the second dose, for Mumbai suburban railway travel. Mumbaikars can now obtain a ‘Universal Travel Pass’ using the link https://epassmsdma.mahait.org. This web link will be available on all web browsers. The e-pass should be saved on a mobile phone and after showing the e-pass at the ticket window at suburban railway stations, the citizens will get a monthly travel pass directly from the railways. Therefore, offline verification will not be required at railway stations, if a universal online e-pass is obtained.