<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said that Centre should come up with a national policy to import vaccines from the foreign countries. Tope told reporters after his meeting with Union Health Minister, Dr. Harshvardhan through video conference.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said, if a national policy is formulated to procure vaccine from foreign countries then it will help states. The minister said, states are issuing tenders to procure vaccines from foreign countries. He informed that these foreign companies are mentioning different rates to different states. He said that he informed Union Health Minister that around 20-22 lakh people in the state are in need of the second dose of vaccine. Tope said, by taking note of the situation the Centre should make a proper planning to provide necessary vials of vaccine.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said to inoculate people above 45 years of age 20 lakh dose of vaccines are required.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Tope also said that there are 1,500 patients of mucormycosis in the state and an uptick in the cases is being witnessed.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said there is a decline in active cases of COVID-19 in the state and the growth rate is below one per cent. Similarly, he said the recovery rate of the state has notched up to 88 from 80 per cent.</span><br />''