News Analysis India

Tag: Covid vaccination

  • India overtook US in terms of administering at least one Covid vaccine dose, says Centre

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The government on Friday said that India has overtaken the US in terms of the number of people who have received at least the first dose of Covid vaccines.

    Referring to global vaccination figures put together by Our World in Data, VK Paul, member (health), Niti Aayog said the number of people who have received at least one dose of Covid vaccine in India is now higher than in the US since Thursday.

    “The data put out by Our World in Data shows that India has administered the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to 17.2 crore people. In the US, this figure is 16.9 crore. As of Thursday, we have overtaken the US in terms of the number of people who have received at least one dose,” he said.

    He added that this dataset does not include China but while the UK had administered 3.9 crore first doses vaccine and this figure stood at 3.8 crore for Germany.

    Most experts however have pointed out that comparison with other countries in terms of absolute number of vaccinations may not be appropriate given the country’s huge population as compared with other countries with much smaller populations. In the US for instance about 40% adults have been fully vaccinated, while this figure is less than 5% for India. 

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute gets DCGI’s nod to manufacture Covid jab Sputnik V in India

    As per the statistics shared by the Union health ministry on Friday, India has so far covered around 43% people in the 60 plus category, and 37 % in the 45 plus age group category with at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

    “For us, the elderly population has a greater priority because of their vulnerability and high prevalence of comorbidities in this age group. I urge states to increase vaccination of senior citizens and urge them to come forward for vaccination,” said Paul.

    Authorities also added that while the second wave of Covid is subsiding, India needs more time to ensure “high coverage” of vaccination for its population against coronavirus, stressing on the need for consistent containment measures.

    In response to a question whether the covid vaccine by Pfizer, once available in India, will be administered to adolescents as is the case in some other countries, Paul said that vaccination can be opened for kids only when sufficient doses are available for the kids.

    He added that Covaxin and the Covid vaccine candidate by Zydus Cadilla are being tested on children.  

    “Hopefully we will have enough data in the next two weeks to decide whether the vaccine can be used on children or not,” he said. It just needs to be ascertained whether the vaccines have the similar immunogenicity in kids as in adults.

  • PM Modi speaks to US Vice President Kamala, appreciates efforts for Covid vaccine supply to India

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to the US Vice President Kamala Harris and expressed his appreciation for assurance of vaccine supplies to India as part of the US Strategy for Global Vaccine Sharing, under which India is expected to get the first batch of doses by the month-end.

    In a series of tweets, Modi said he also thanked Harris for all the support and solidarity from the US government, businesses and the Indian diaspora.

    “We also discussed ongoing efforts to further strengthen India-US vaccine cooperation & potential of our partnership to contribute to post-Covid global health, economic recovery,” he said.

    Spoke to @VP Kamala Harris a short while ago. I deeply appreciate the assurance of vaccine supplies to India as part of the US Strategy for Global Vaccine Sharing. I also thanked her for the all the support and solidarity from the US government, businesses and Indian diaspora.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 3, 2021

    The US embassy also issued a statement from Symone Sanders, senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Harris on her calls with leaders of four countries, including Modi, on the global allocation plan for the supply of the COVID-19 vaccine doses to India and other countries by the month-end.

    In the four separate calls, she said that the US will begin sharing the first 25 million (2.5 crore) doses of COVID-19 vaccines to their respective countries and others, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s framework for sharing at least 80 million (8 crore) vaccines globally by the end of June.

    She reiterated that the administration’s efforts are focused on achieving a broad global coverage, responding to surges and other urgent situations and public health needs, and helping as many countries as possible who requested vaccines.

    The four leaders thanked the vice president, and they agreed to continue working together to address COVID-19 and advance our mutual interests around the world, the US government statement said.

    Besides Modi, Harris spoke to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico, President Alejandro Giammattei of Guatemala and Prime Minister Keith Rowley, Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the statement added.

    Officials here said that Modi and Harris discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen the health supply chain between the US and India, including in the area of vaccine manufacturing.

    They highlighted the potential of the India-US partnership as well as the QUAD vaccine initiative in addressing the long-term health impact of the pandemic.

    The prime minister also said he hopes to welcome Vice President Harris in India soon after normalisation of the global health situation.

  • Rahul Gandhi alleges govt hiding Covid deaths, urges people to demand universal free vaccination

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday accused the Central government of “hiding” the actual coronavirus death figures, even as he urged people to raise their voice for universal free vaccination.

    “GOI is hiding actual Covid deaths,” he said in a tweet, tagging a media report that conducted a survey on who people thought were responsible for coronavirus deaths.

    Gandhi also launched a campaign to pressure the government for universal free vaccination in the country.

    “Vaccine is the strongest protection against the corona pandemic. You should also raise your voice for providing free vaccination to the people of the country – wake up the central government,” he said on Twitter, using the hashtag #SpeakUpForFreeUniversalVaccination.

    He also shared a video highlighting the shortage of vaccines.

    His sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted for universal free vaccination and slammed the government over a “confused and dithering” vaccination program.

    “We are one of the biggest vaccine-manufacturers in the world. Yet only 3.4% of our population is fully vaccinated.

    Who is responsible for India’s confused and dithering vaccination program,” she asked in the tweet.

    She said that on August 15 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared that there was a plan in place to vaccinate every Indian.

    But it is now mid-2021, and the country’s inoculation rate is just 1.9 million people per day, whereas “we need 7 to 8 million people to be vaccinated per day to achieve that target”, she said.

    “The Centre first took all responsibility, after that as the 2nd wave hit it started to abdicate responsibility to the states.

    Other federal countries like Germany and the USA have followed a completely different process, where the Centre has procured the vaccines and distributed it to states,” she asked in a video tagged in the tweet.

    “Why did the Modi government not do so?” The Congress has been critical of the government’s handling of the pandemic and has slammed the vaccination policy.

    The party has also been demanding free vaccination for all and has urged the Centre to procure jabs and provide them to states.

    Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram questioned the government over delay in giving approval to foreign-made vaccines.

    “Our suspicion that the govt had not approved any vaccine other than Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik has been proved correct.

    Why did govt go through the charade of negotiating quantities with Pfizer & Moderna without first giving Emergency Use Approval (EUA) to their vaccines? “Why has it taken 8-9 months for the government to decide to give approval when the U.S. and other countries had granted approval? Remember, Dr Manmohan Singh had made this specific suggestion in his letter which got a rude reply from the Union Health Minister!” he said in a series of tweets.

  • Cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 22 crore-mark: Govt

    As on day 138 of the vaccination drive (June 2), a total of 22,45,112 vaccine doses were given.

  • SC slams Centre’s COVID vaccination policy as ‘prima facie arbitrary’; orders review

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Observing courts cannot be “silent spectators” when constitutional rights of citizens are infringed by executive policies, the Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed the Centre’s COVID vaccination policy, describing as “prima facie arbitrary and irrational” allowing states and private hospitals to charge those in the 18-44 age group while the jabs were offered free for groups in the first two phases, and ordered its review.

    Seeking to scrutinise the COVID vaccination policy in detail, the top court also asked the Centre to provide information including as to how Rs 35,000 crore, earmarked for vaccines, has been spent so far, and to place on record all relevant documents and file notings reflecting its thinking culminating in the policy.

    The apex court’s May 31 order, uploaded on its site on Wednesday, was critical of the Centre’s decisions on liberalized vaccination policy, differential pricing of vaccines for Centre, states and private hospitals, basis of such a norm and mandatory registration on CoWIN App for booking slots for jabs in view of huge digital divide between rural and urban India and sought response from the government on its queries in in two weeks.

    The apex court said that in grappling with the second wave of the COVID pandemic, it does not intend to second-guess the wisdom of the executive when it chooses between two competing and efficacious policy measures.

    The court, however, added that it will continue to exercise jurisdiction to determine “if the chosen policy conforms to the standards of reasonableness, militates against manifest arbitrariness and protects the right to life of all persons”.

    “Constitution does not envisage courts to be silent spectators when constitutional rights of citizens are infringed by executive policies”, the bench said in its order in a hard hitting response to the Centre’s submissions in an affidavit that the judiciary should not enter into the policy making domain.

    “The Union Budget for Financial Year 2021-2022 had earmarked Rs 35,000 crore for procuring vaccines.

    In light of the Liberalized Vaccination Policy, the Central Government is directed to clarify how these funds have been spent so far and why they cannot be utilized for vaccinating persons aged 18-44 years,” said a special bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat.

    “We direct the Union of India(UoI) to undertake a fresh review of its vaccination policy addressing the concerns raised,” said the order which is a part of a series of judicial decisions rendered on the suo motu case on COVID-19 management in the country.

    Finding fault with the vaccination policy, it said unlike the previous one, it did not prioritize persons with comorbidities and this became important in view of the fact that in the second wave, persons between 18-44 years of age have suffered severe effects of infection including deaths in unfortunate cases.

    “Due to the changing nature of the pandemic, we are now faced with a situation where the 18-44 age group also needs to be vaccinated, although priority may be retained between different age groups on a scientific basis.

    “Hence, due to the importance of vaccinating individuals in the 18-44 age group, the policy of the Central Government for conducting free vaccination themselves for groups under the first 2 phases, and replacing it with paid vaccination by the State/UT Governments and private hospitals for the persons between 18-44 years is, prima facie, arbitrary and irrational,” Justice Chandrachud said in the 32-page order.

    Healthcare workers and those above 45 years figured in the first two phases.

    The court asked the Centre to provide the data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated (with one dose and both doses), as against eligible persons in the first three phases of the vaccination drive.

    “This shall include data pertaining to the percentage of rural population as well as the percentage of urban population so vaccinated,” it said asking the Centre to furnish each and every detail sought.

    The bench also sought “complete data” of the Centre’s purchase history of all the COVID-19 vaccines– Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V– till date.

    “The data should clarify: (a) the dates of all procurement orders placed by the Central Government for all 3 vaccines; (b) the quantity of vaccines ordered as on each date; and (c) the projected date of supply; and an outline for how and when the Central Government seeks to vaccinate the remaining population in phases 1, 2 and 3.”

    The court has sought information on the steps being taken by the Centre to ensure drug availability for mucormycosis which is also called ‘Black Fungus’.

    Taking note of the Centre’s reply that states and UTs will provide vaccination free of cost to its population, the court said it is important that individual states and UTs may “confirm or deny” this position before this Court.

    “Further, if they have decided to vaccinate their population for free then, as a matter of principle, it is important that this policy is annexed to their affidavit, so that the population within their territories can be assured of their right to be vaccinated for free at a state vaccination centre.

    “Hence, we direct each of the State/UT Governments to also file an affidavit within 2 weeks, where they shall clarify their position and put on record their individual policies,” the bench said.

    Trashing the Centre’s objection that judiciary should not enter into the policy making domain, the bench said it is trite to state that separation of powers is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution and policy-making continues to be in the sole domain of the executive.

    “The judiciary does not possess the authority or competence to assume the role of the executive, which is democratically accountable for its actions and has access to the resources which are instrumental to policy formulation.

    However, this separation of powers does not result in courts lacking jurisdiction in conducting a judicial review of these policies.

    “Our Constitution does not envisage courts to be silent spectators when constitutional rights of citizens are infringed by executive policies.

    Judicial review and soliciting constitutional justification for policies formulated by the executive is an essential function, which the courts are entrusted to perform.” The top court asked the Centre to clarify its stand on the roadmap of the projected availability of vaccines till 31 December 2021, the preparedness with respect to specific needs of children in the event of a third wave of the pandemic in terms of medical infrastructure, vaccination trials and regulatory approval, and compatible drugs.

    It has sought information whether under the Centre’s policy, it is permissible for the states and UTs or individual local bodies to access vaccine supplies of foreign manufacturers.

    The court also sought numbers of crematorium workers vaccinated in phase one and asked whether a targeted drive can be conducted for vaccination of the remaining workers in this category.

    “The State/UT Governments are diverting the vaccines (procured by them at a higher price than Central Government) for the persons in the age group of 18-44 years to vaccinate persons above 45 years of age, due to a shortage of vaccines being supplied by the Central Government.

    “The manner in which the Central Government will factor this quantity and price differential into their subsequent allocation and disbursal of vaccines to States/UTs for the persons above 45 years of age; and the mechanism for redistribution, if the 25:25 quota in a particular State/UT is not picked up by the State/UT Government or the private hospitals,” the order said while seeking details.

  • Fear of death, impotence keeping villagers away from Covid jabs in Jharkhand

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: People in rural areas, especially the tribal dominated districts such as Gumla, Khunti and other adjoining districts, are reluctant to get COVID vaccine due to the fear of death, fever and impotence as well, after the jabs are administered to them. 

    Not only they are reluctant to take the jabs, but health workers reaching out to tribal villages for vaccination and awareness drives are being attacked by the villagers.

    In a recent such incident, health workers who had gone for COVID survey to the Unkuda village under Torpa Block of Khunti on Tuesday were attacked by the villagers asking them to leave the place or they will be killed. Villagers were said to be annoyed after a woman in the village died within few days aftertaking COVID jab.

    There are more than half a dozen villages in Khunti itself which witnessed opposition from the locals after the survey team reached there and asked not to bring vaccines to the village in the last few days. Interestingly, even those who have taken the first dose are also not turning up for the second one afterthey got fever after the first jab.

    Local village representatives in Gumla also asserted that there is a misconception among the villagers regarding the vaccine, due to which they are not ready to take the jabs.

    “There is a misconception among the villagers that COVID jabs will make them impotent, ill or they might also die. Some of the incidents where people having comorbidity died after taking the jabs have strengthened their belief,” said Senha Circle Officer Vijay Das. Looking at these problems, intensive awareness drive has been launched in the region following which, people have started turning up for vaccination, he added.

    ALSO READ | Vaccinating Tamil Nadu tribals an uphill task as fear of death, side-effects drive them away

    Moreover, traditional village heads and priests are being administered COVID vaccine on priority basis to pass a positive message and develop a sense of confidence among villagers.

    Local village representatives in Gumla also confirmed that people are really afraid of taking the jabs due to the fear death or getting ill.

    “People here are afraid of taking the jabs as they get fever as soon as they are administered the vaccine. Though, this is a common phenomenon, a belief has been established among the villagers that vaccines are making them ill,” said Mukhia of Andhardih village under Ghaghra Block of Gumla, Jhari Oraon.

    Enamul Khan of Malgo village under Bharno Block was of the view that people are also not very keen to take the jab as some of the people died after a few days of getting the COVID vaccine.

    “Recently, some of the old age people who already had high blood sugar and other ailments, died after a few days of taking the jab which has strengthened their belief that the jabs are killing people,” said Khan. As most of the people got fever post vaccination, many of them have already decided that they will not go for the second jab, he added.

    Officials said that there definitely is a problem, which is being resolved gradually. “There is a belief among the villagers that they should not have any problem due to the vaccine but people are getting fever post vaccination. So they are not very keen in taking the second jab,” said Bishunpur BDO Chanda Bhattacharya. There was very encouraging response during the first doze, but since most of the people got fever and headache after that, they are not turning up for the second doze, she added.

    Gumla Deputy Commissioner Shishir Kumar Sinha also admitted that there is some problem due to which intensive awareness drive has been launched to encourage people to come forward for vaccination.

  • Provide complete data on purchase history of all Covid vaccines: SC to Centre

    The ape court ordered that the affidavit should clarify the dates of all procurement orders placed by the government, the quantity of vaccines ordered and the projected date of supply.

  • Scale up Covid vaccination numbers, 12 crore doses coming in June: Centre to states

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: India could see nearly 40 lakh Covid vaccinations in June every day, on an average, a level never achieved even though the daily vaccinations crossed 35 lakh-mark briefly in April, as the vaccine availability for the month is set to be higher by over 50% as compared to May.

    While 10 crore and 90 lakh doses of Covishield and Covaxin will be available respectively, nearly 1 crore doses of Sputnik V too is likely to be available in June, sources told The New Indian Express.

    In a review on the progress of Covid vaccination in states, the Centre on Monday asked states to enumerate ways accelerate the pace of Vaccination in view of substantial increase in vaccine availability in June.

    The government has said that while 7,94,05,200 crore doses of Covid vaccines were available in May, through the central supply and the direct procurement by states and private hospitals however the stock available for June is 11,95,70,000.

    In view of this, the states have been asked to maximize use of flexibilities like ‘near home’ Covid vaccination centers and raising the involvement of private hospitals for enhanced pace of vaccination.

    In the review meeting on Monday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked states to increase the number of near-to-home vaccination centres, and create awareness among the masses for use of these centers. These vaccination centers have been permitted at community halls, residents’ association offices, schools among other locations in order to facilitate inoculation of those above 60 years with first doses and those with special needs.

    ALSO READ | ‘Near home’ COVID vaccination centres will benefit 14 crore senior citizens: Centre

    The average daily vaccinations against coronavirus in India was nearly 40% lower in May as compared to April, even though inoculations opened for all adult population in India from the beginning of this month.

    Between April 3 and 9, an average of 35, 35, 250 shots were administered every day and this figure reached 36,59, 356 on April 10—the highest daily vaccinations achieved in the country so far—but this number has been dipping dramatically ever since.

    On the other hand, as per the details shared by the Centre, for June, 6,09,60,000 doses of Covid vaccines will be supplied to states for vaccination of priority group of health care and frontline workers, front-line workers and persons aged 45 years + and above as supply from the Centre.

    In addition, 5,86,10,000 vaccine doses will be available for direct procurement by states and private hospitals as per the figures shared.  

    The Centre has said that the delivery schedule for this allocation will be shared in advance.

    For the month of May, a total 4,03,49,830 vaccine doses were supplied by the Centre while 3,90,55,370 doses were available for direct procurement by the states and private hospitals.

    The statistics show that over 23 crore doses of the Covid vaccines have been procured by the Centre and states so far of which total consumption was 21,22,38,652 doses, including wastages, till Monday morning.

  • Decide on plea for priority in COVID vaccination to NRIs, students going abroad: Delhi HC to Centre

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the central government to decide “as early as possible” a representation by an NGO for priority in COVID vaccination to NRIs and students who have to go abroad for studies.

    A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh said the representation of May 20 by NGO Pravasi Legal Cell be decided in accordance with the law, rules, regulations and government policy applicable to the case.

    With the direction, the court disposed of the PIL. The NGO had moved the court as it received no response to its representation. The NGO, represented by advocate Jose Abraham, had also sought inclusion of passport numbers in the vaccination certificates of those intending to travel abroad.

    Pravasi Legal Cell, in its plea filed through advocates MP Srivignesh, Robin Raju and Deepa Joseph, claimed that NRIs who came to India during the COVID-19 outbreak globally have to now return to their respective countries where they reside or work in view of decline in infections in many countries and resumption of international flights.

    The petition said that foreign nations only allow entry to those persons who are vaccinated and if preference is not given to such individuals, it would badly affect them.

    It also said that the US and European countries are only permitting entry to those students who have been vaccinated and therefore, it was important to give priority to such persons as the academic year in the US, the UK and other European nations commences from August-September.

    It had further said that most foreign countries accept the vaccination certificate only when they have the passport number on it. “So, a vaccination certificate carrying the Aadhaar number in place of the passport number cannot be produced as a valid document with the latest rules in many countries,” it had added.

    It had also claimed that people who have received both doses of Covaxin are also not allowed to travel internationally as the vaccine, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, has not been included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) yet.

    “So, it is humbly submitted that the respondent (Centre) must take appropriate steps in this regard so no difficulty is faced by the people travelling abroad even after being fully vaccinated by doses of Covaxin,” it had said.

  • Take action against institutions giving vaccination package with hotels: Centre to states

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked states and union territories to initiate legal or administrative action against institutions which are giving package for Covid vaccination in collaboration with hotels in violation of prescribed guidelines.

    In a letter to all states and UTs, Additional Secretary to Health ministry Manohar Agnani said it has come to the notice of the Union health ministry that some private hospitals are giving package for Covid vaccination in collaboration with some hotels, which is against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Program.

    Apart from government Covid vaccination centre and private Covid vaccination centre, workplace, near home Covid vaccination centre for elderly and differently-abled persons to be organised at group housing societies, there are no other avenues to carry out vaccination under the national Covid Vaccination Program so vaccination carried out in star hotels is contrary to the guidelines and must be stopped immediately, Agnani was quoted as saying in the letter.

    “Necessary legal and administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions. Therefore, you are also requested to monitor and ensure that National Covid Vaccination drive is carried out as per the prescribed guidelines,” he added.