As Covid-19 second wave grips country, several states report vaccine shortage | In pictures

India has been facing a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and, in the middle of that, several states have alleged vaccine shortage.

Maharashtra government has said that it has vaccine against Covid-19 left to last only for a few days.

Centre, however, said the allegations of vaccine shortage were utterly baseless and the states, including Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, need to improve the implementation of their testing and containment strategies and vaccination drive.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan has said the "lackadaisical" attitude of the Maharashtra government has "singularly bogged down" the entire country's efforts to fight the virus.

Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in the second Covid-19 wave in the country. The state has been breaking its own record of highest daily case spike for the past few days now.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said that Maharashtra has vaccinated only 86 percent of health workers with the first dose, while the equivalent numbers for Delhi and Punjab are 72 percent and 64 percent. He said 10 Indian states/UTs have done more than 90 percent.

On Wednesday, Centre decided to allow Covid-19 vaccination sessions in all private and government work places which have atleast 100 eligible and willing beneficiaries above 45 years of age. This will begin from April 11.