Centre to supply 1.92 cr Covid vaccines to states

May 14, 2021 14:55

People wait to get vaccinated in Mumbai

Finally, some good news on the vaccine front. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar says the Central government will supply nearly 1.92 crore Covid vaccines to states/UTs, free of cost, during the fortnight of 16th-31st May 2021. This comes amid a continuing scarcity of Covid vaccinations across every state. Yesterday, the government increased the gap between the 1st and 2nd dose of Covishield vaccine from 6 to 8 weeks earlier to 12 to 16 weeks from today.

States/UTs have been requested to direct the officials concerned to ensure rational and judicious utilisation of allocated doses and minimise vaccine wastage.

The 191.99 lakh doses include 162.5 lakh Covishield doses and 29.49 lakh Covaxin doses. "The basic objective behind informing the states and UTs in advance of the quantum of free vaccine doses to be made available from Government of India for 15 days is to ensure that they prepare effective plans for judicious and optimum utilisation of these free vaccine doses which are meant for the age group of 45 and above, and for healthcare and frontline workers," the ministry said.

In the previous fortnight, that is 1 May-May 15, 2021, a total quantum of more than 1.7 crore vaccine doses has been made available by the Centre to states/UTs, free of charge. In addition, more than 4.39 crore doses were made available for direct procurement by the states as well as private hospitals in the month of May, the ministry said.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country is nearly 18 crore (17.93 crore as per the 7 am provisional report on Friday).

Pharma company Dr Reddy's has administered the first dose of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine today.

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