News Analysis India

Tag: Covishield

  • COVID-19: Vaccination drive for 18-44 age group to begin in Himachal from Monday

    By PTI
    SHIMLA: The vaccination drive against COVID-19 for the 18-44 age group will begin in Himachal Pradesh from May 17, a health official said on Friday.

    The state recently received 1,07,620 doses of Covishield vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, Pune for this category, Special Health Secretary Nipun Jindal said.

    Vaccination for the 18-44 age group will be given only on Mondays and Thursdays, and slots will be visible on the COWIN portal two days prior to each scheduled session, he said.

    The state has already placed an order for more vaccines for this age group, Jindal added.

    All the eligible persons will have to register themselves and schedule their appointment for vaccination on the COWIN portal, he added.

    The health official said the available slots will be visible on the COWIN portal from May 15.

    HRTC conductors and drivers, fuel pump operators, PDS depot holders, teachers on COVID duty, banks and financial services, chemists, staff of Lok Mitra Kendra, employees in childcare institutions under the WCD department and the workers of pharma industry who are engaged in manufacturing process have now been declared as prioritised group for the anti-coronavirus vaccination, he added.

    These persons should get themselves certified from the departments concerned and they can avail vaccination in the priority group, he added.

    Meanwhile, a total of 21,08,857 people in the state have already been vaccinated till May 13.

    While 16,89,496 persons have been given the first dose, 4,19,361 persons have been administered the second dose.

    Of them, 81,822 healthcare workers got the first dose, while 68,608 HCWs were administered the second dose.

    Similarly, 53,761 frontline workers got the first dose, while 41,322 FLWs administered the second dose.

    In the same way, 8,61,509 persons between 45 and 60 years of age were administered the first dose while 63,939 got the second dose.

    Besides, 6,92,404 persons above 60 years were given the first dose, while 2,45,492 got the second dose.

    The COVID-19 death toll in Himachal Pradesh rose to 2,118 on Thursday with 63 more fatalities, while 4,937 new cases pushed the tally to 1,50,673, a senior official said.

    According to data updated till 7 pm, the number of active cases in the state stands at 40,008.

    The total recoveries in the state have risen to 1,08,503 with 3,817 more people recovering, the official said.

  • Centre agrees to increase gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government has accepted the COVID-19 Working Group’s recommendation for extending the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks, the Union health ministry said, while announcing the extension on Thursday.

    However, no change has been suggested for the dosage interval for Covaxin, it said.

    “Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended,” the ministry said.

    The present gap between two doses of Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is 6-8 weeks.

    “The recommendation of the COVID-19 Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), headed by Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog, in its meeting on May 12, 2021,” the ministry said.

    It has accepted this recommendation of the COVID-19 Working Group of extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks, the health ministry added.

    The health ministry has now advised states and union territories to ensure second dose of Covishield to beneficiaries within this stipulated time interval of 12-16 weeks after first dose.

    ALSO READ | Covishield doses can now be taken between 12-16 weeks, experts wonder if shortage is reason

    Paul at a press conference said that extending the gap between the vaccine’s two doses was a science-based decision taken on the recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).

    Explaining the reasons behind the extension, he said according to studies, initially the interval between two doses of Covishield was 4-6 weeks but then as more data became available, secondary analysis showed increasing the dosage interval to 4-8 weeks can have some advantage.

    The UK by that time had already extended it to 12 weeks and the World Health Organisation (WHO) also had said the same, but many nations still did not change the dosage pattern, Paul said.

    “At that time, our science-based technical committee anchored by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) along with the DBT (Department of Biotechnology) by looking at the data available felt breakthrough infections may increase if the gap is increased (to 12 weeks). So, in good faith, based on their capability, without any pressures, they increased the dosage interval to 4 to 8 weeks,” he said.

    The issue was reviewed periodically again and again, Paul said.

    Now, based on the available real-life evidence, particularly from the UK, the decision to extend it from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks has been taken with confidence that there will not be an extra risk, he said, adding that this is a dynamic decision and part of a periodic review.

    Underlining that NTAGI is a standing committee which was constituted much before COVID-19 had emerged and works on immunisation for children, Paul said, “It looks at scientific data and we must respect the decision of this institution.”

    “They make independent decisions. Have faith in our scientific processes. NTAGI is a group of individuals of high integrity,” he said.

    Asked if the efficacy of the vaccine will be affected with this extension, Paul said, “The efficacy is so good even after the single dose. it is not a problem at all.”

    On ensuring the extension of the gap between the two doses of Covishield, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in a letter to states and union territories said, “I request you to kindly instruct the concerned officials to undertake necessary steps to widely disseminate the message of revised dosing interval amongst programme managers, vaccinators and recipients of Covishield vaccine and ensure adherence of revised dosing interval.”

    “Requisite changes are being carried out in the Co-WIN platform and would be separately communicated to the States/UTs. You are also requested to note that this decision of revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to Covishield and not to Covaxin vaccine,” he said.

    The COVID-19 Working Group is chaired by Dr N K Arora, who is director at the INCLEN Trust.

    Its members comprise Dr Rakesh Agarwal, Director and Dean, JIPMER, Puducherry; Dr Gagandeep Kang, professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr J P Mulliyal, former professor, Christian Medical College, Vellore; Dr Naveen Khanna, Group Leader, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), JNU, New Delhi; Dr Amulya Panda, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; and Dr V G Somani, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).

  • Covishield doses can now be taken between 12-16 weeks, experts wonder if shortage is reason

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: An expert panel on Covid vaccination in the country has now recommended increasing the gap between two doses of Covishield to 12-16 weeks, deviating from European Union and UK suggestion to follow a 12-week interval between two shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

    The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid, headed by VK Paul, who is also a Member (Health), Niti Aayog, has also suggested that those who have recovered from Covid infection, should get the vaccine against coronavirus six months after the recovery.

    Meanwhile, the Centre approved extending the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks following a recommendation from the panel.

    “Based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from the UK, the COVID-19 Working Group agreed to increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in the interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended,” the Health Ministry said.

    The gap of 12-16 weeks for this vaccine, originally developed by AstraZeneca-Oxford University and being manufactured by Serum Institute of India locally has not been tested in clinical trials.

    Experts pointed out that the decision could be triggered by the vaccine shortage, rather than any scientific rationale.  

    As of now, the recommended gap between two doses of Covishield in India is 4-8 weeks even though the WHO had in February recommended administering the two doses of the vaccine at a gap of 12 weeks, citing evidence which showed that its efficacy of the vaccine is the highest following this interval.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute to produce 10 crore doses by August, Bharat Biotech promises 7.8 crore jabs

    “This recommendation was not accepted earlier but has now been extended beyond 12 weeks now,” said a member of the Covid19 task force. “There was no scientific rationale then not to go by the international precedence, and there seems none now except that there is an acute vaccine shortage in India.”

    The government recently had also suggested a gap of 4-6 weeks between two doses of Covaxin, even though, in clinical trials the vaccine has been tested with only a gap of 28 days.

    Meanwhile, NEGVAC endorsing a 6-week gap for Covid vaccination following recovery from the infection is also being met with some skepticism. Incidentally, this comes just days after ICMR director general Balram Bhargava said those who have battled Covid successfully, can get vaccine 6 weeks following their recovery.

    “So far, I have not come across any scientific evidence which suggests that people who have had the infection before should wait for six weeks for their shots against Covid,” said immunologist Seyed Hasnain.

    Some others however explained that this recommendation may have stemmed from research findings showing that antibodies against SARS CoV2 generally stay in the body till at least 6-8 weeks after getting infected.

    “The focus now seems to make the Covid vaccine available to as many people as possible and therefore all possible ways — scientific or otherwise, are being tried out,” said the task force member.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Vaccine shortage: Serum Institute to produce 10 crore doses by August, Bharat Biotech promises 7.8 crore jabs

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Amid multiple states reporting a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine, Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech have submitted to the Centre their production plan for the next four months, informing they can ramp it up to 10 crore and 7.8 crore doses respectively by August, official sources said on Wednesday

    The sources said the Union Health Ministry and the office of Drugs Controller General of India had sought from both the firms their production plan for June, July, August and September.

    The Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s indigenously developed Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield, being manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, are currently being used in India’s inoculation drive against coronavirus.

    Dr V Krishna Mohan, the Whole-time Director of Bharat Biotech, is learnt to have conveyed to the government that the production of Covaxin would be raised to 3.32 crore in July, and to 7.82 crore in August which will be maintained in September too.

    Similarly, Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Serum Institute of India, has communicated that the production of Covishield would be ramped up to 10 crore doses each in August and will be maintained at that level in September, the official sources said.

    “We confirm that the quantities mentioned will be fulfilled under all circumstances. Also, we are trying our best by utilising all our resources to increase our production capacity of Covishield. In view of this, the production during June and July may also increase by some quantity,” Singh said in a communique to the health ministry.

    An inter-ministerial group, comprising Rajneesh Tingal, Joint Secretary in the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Dr Mandeep Bhandari, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health, which was constituted for facilitating the capacity augmentation of domestic vaccine manufacturing, had visited the production facilities of both the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech in April.

    Several states and UTs including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana have decided to opt for global tenders for procurement of anti-coronavirus shots with the domestic supply falling short to meet the rising demand.

    Meanwhile, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said Bharat Biotech has informed the Delhi government that it cannot provide “additional” Covaxin doses to the national capital.

    The stock of Covaxin in Delhi has finished and as a result around 100 vaccination centres set up in 17 schools have been closed, he said.

    The Ministry of Science & Technology had said in a statement on April 16 that the production capacity of indigenously developed Covaxin will be doubled by May-June 2021 and then increased nearly 6-7 fold by July-August 2021.

  • India vaccination drive: Government affidavit shows low May stock for 18-44 category; states asked to focus on those needing second dose

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Only about 2 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses may be available for the 18-44-year age group across India this month, an affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court revealed. 

    In other words, just one dose is available for 30 beneficiaries, since the population of this age group in India is about 60 crore.

    It explains why people are finding it difficult to book their vaccination shots this month.

    The affidavit shows that 1.5 crore doses of Covishield and 50 lakh doses of Covaxin are available in May for “other than Govt of India channel” in May.

    Under the Centre’s decentralised and liberalised vaccination policy, which came into effect on May 1, it will procure 50% of the total Covid vaccine supplies directly, which will then be shared with states to inoculate the population over 45 years.

    Fifty per cent of the supplies, however, will have to be procured directly by states and private hospitals, which can then be used to administer shots to the 18-44-year age group, under the revised vaccination strategy.

    The document shows that the highest allocation of about 34.38 lakh vaccine doses have been made for Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra (over 18 lakh) and Bihar (about 16 lakh). 

    Officials in the Union health ministry said that the allocations under this category had been worked out on a state-wise population of 18-44 years pro rata and it had already been conveyed to the state at the end of April.

    Experts harp on equitable vax allocation

    As per the details earlier shared by the Union government, it has booked a total of 16 crore Covishield and Covaxin doses which will be delivered between May-July and will be used for vaccinating only the priority population.

    Experts meanwhile stressed that unless vaccines are distributed in an equitable manner, India will not be able to get out of the pandemic.

    “No one is safe until everyone is protected, if access to vaccines is left to be dictated by market forces and digital gate keeping, a technology enabled human disaster is in the making,” said health policy specialist Oommen John.

    Public health researcher Oommen C Kurian emphasised on the need of covering the most vulnerable first, given the limited supply of vaccines.

    “Given the supply constraints, the government should have wo rked hard towards fighting vaccine hesitancy among the high-risk categories rather than going for the easy, populist alternative of opening up vaccinations for relatively better off 18-44-year-olds,” he said.

    Prioritise vaccinating those due for second dose: Centre to states

    The Centre appealed to states on Tuesday to prioritise vaccinating those due for second dose of COVID-19 vaccine and reserve at least 70 per cent of the shots supplied from the central pool for the purpose.

    States have also been urged to minimise wastage of vaccine doses, the health ministry said in a statement.

    All wastage more than the national average hereafter is to be adjusted from the subsequent allocations to that state or union territory.

    The urgent need to address a large number of beneficiaries waiting for second dose of vaccine was stressed in a meeting held by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Dr R S Sharma, the Chairman of Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to Combat COVID-19, with state officials to review the status of COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday.

    States were urged to “ensure all beneficiaries who have taken the first dose are prioritised for the second doses”, the ministry said in the statement.

    In this regard, states can reserve at least 70 per cent of the vaccines supplied to them from the Government of India channel for second dose vaccination and the remaining 30 per cent for first dose.

    “This however is indicative. States have the liberty to enhance this to as much as 100 per cent. State-wise numbers on CoWIN have been shared with states for their planning purposes.”

    “The states were asked to undertake awareness campaign for reinforcing the importance of complete vaccination with two doses of the vaccine,” the statement said.

    Presenting details of states who have ensured high coverage of priority groups (like population aged 45+, frontline workers and healthcare workers) and the others, the Union Health secretary urged states to ensure that priority groups are vaccinated.

    States have been informed in a transparent manner in advance about the COVID vaccines being provided to them from Govt of India channel.

    The visibility for the forthcoming fortnight is conveyed to them in advance to enable better and more effective planning by them, the statement stated.

    The next allocation for the period 15-31th May will be conveyed to them on May 14.

    It was pointed out that states can utilize the information regarding dose allocation for the next 15 days to plan their vaccination sessions.

    States were also urged to minimise vaccine wastage, the statement said.

    While the overall levels have considerably reduced, Union Health Secretary pointed that there were many states which still needed to substantially reduce the wastage.

    It was suggested to states and UTs to retrain and reorient vaccinators to ensure judicious usage of the vaccines.

    “All wastage more than the national average hereafter is to be adjusted from the subsequent allocations to that state and UT,” the statement said.

    In this context, it was also pointed out that certain states are able to report a negative wastage because the well-trained health workers can extract maximum doses per vial than what is otherwise generally earmarked.

    States were also briefed about procurement from the ‘Other than Government of India’ (OGoI) channel which has been opened in the Liberalised Phase-III Strategy of Vaccination.

    In view of the payments pending from states to the private vaccine manufacturers, the states were advised to constitute a dedicated team at state level of 2 or 3 senior officers to coordinate with vaccine manufacturers on a daily basis and secure State Govt. supplies promptly, the statement said.

    This team is to also coordinate with private hospitals to facilitate their procurement thereby maintaining the momentum of the overall vaccination exercise in the State.

    The CoWIN platform is also being modified to better reflect the changing needs of the vaccination exercise, the statement said.

    The states can download a second dose due report to better plan the completion of vaccination of the target groups, the statement said.

    The District Immunization Officer and COVID Vaccination Centre Manager can increase the session capacity according to demand and can also visualise the target group in their upcoming sessions.

    Beneficiaries without relevant photo ID cards like senior citizens at old-age homes, etc., can also be registered, the ministry said.

    Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has gone past 17.51 crore, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday.

    It said 4,74,629 beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine on Tuesday and cumulatively 30,39,287 across 30 states and union territories since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.

    The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 17,51,71,482 according to the 8 pm provisional report, the ministry said.

    The total of 17,51,71,482 include 95,81,872 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 65,38,656 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 1,41,45,083 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose, 79,50,430 FLWs who have taken the second dose, and 30,39,287 in the age group of 18-44 years who have received the first dose.

    Besides, 5,58,70,091 and 78,17,926 beneficiaries over 45 to 60 years old have been administered the first and second dose while, 5,39,54,858 and 1,62,73,279 beneficiaries above 60 years have taken the first and the second dose.

    As on day-116 of the vaccination drive (May 11), total 23,85,092 vaccine doses were given.

    It said 10,65,634 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 13,19,458 beneficiaries received the second dose of vaccine according to the provisional report till 8 pm.

    Final reports would be completed for the day by late night.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Boost for India’s COVID fight as Sputnik V vaccine ready for rollout, will be available in private and government facilities

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V will be available at both government and private facilities within the next few days, TNIE has learnt.

    This could boost India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive, which has failed to gather pace due to an acute shortage of Covishield and Covaxin. 

    Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Labs, which conducted Sputnik V’s clinical trials, has the rights to supply 12.5 crore doses of the vaccine.

    The firm received the first lot of 1.5 lakh doses on May 1.

    “The rollout of the consignment will be subject to the necessary clearances, which will be processed over the next few days,” Deepak Sapra, CEO (API and services) at Dr Reddy’s told TNIE.

    The clearances include testing at the Central Drugs Laboratory at Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. Sapra said the initial quantity will be used as a pilot to test the robustness of the supply chain for the larger vaccination programme rollout.

    ALSO READ | Malicious COVID-19 vaccine SMS that compromises Android phones spreading: Cyber agency

    “Subsequent consignments will arrive in the next few weeks,” he added. 

    Three other companies in India have tied up with the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Sputnik V’s sponsor, for local production. The Russian embassy said the target is 85 crore doses per year. 

    Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has gone past 17.26 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

    It said 5,18,479 beneficiaries in the 18-44 age group received their first doses on Monday, which took the cumulatively number for the category to 25,52,843 across 30 states and Union Territories since the start of the phase-3 of the vaccination drive.

    The 25,52,843 individuals include 5,10,347 from Maharashtra, 4,11,002 from Rajasthan, 3,66,309 from Delhi, 3,23,601 from Gujarat and 2,93,716 from Haryana, 1,77,885 from Bihar, 1,66,814 from Uttar Pradesh and 1,06,538 from Assam.

    The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 17,26,33,761 as per the 8 pm provisional report, the ministry said.

    ALSO READ | Delays, shortages mar launch of Covid vaccine drive for 18+ age group in Karnataka

    This include 95,63,406 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 65,05,072 HCWs who have taken the second dose; 1,40,49,681 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received the first dose, and 78,51,075 FLWs who have taken the second dose.

    Besides, 5,54,97,658 and 71,73,939 beneficiaries over 45 to 60 years have been administered the first and second doses respectively, while 5,38,00,706 and 1,56,39,381 beneficiaries above 60 years have taken the first and second dose.

    As on Day-115 of the vaccination drive (10th May, 2021), a total of 24,30,017 vaccine doses were given which included 10,47,092 beneficiaries first doses 13,82,925 second doses according to the provisional report till 8 pm, the ministry said, adding the final report would be completed for the day by late night.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • COVID-19: Plea in Delhi HC to waive clinical trials of foreign vaccines

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A PIL in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a direction to the Centre to waive clinical trials of foreign vaccines so that they are available for use without any delay and to give priority in vaccination to those who have already taken the first dose.

    A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh, however, said it will hear the matter on May 13 as issues raised in the petition are already being considered by the Supreme Court which has also passed a detailed order regarding the same on April 30.

    The court decided to adjourn the matter after the central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, appearing for the Union Health Ministry, said a similar issue was before the Supreme Court and it has issued directions to the Centre regarding the same.

    Ahluwalia also told the bench that the apex court was going to hear the matter again on May 10.

    The plea, by a lawyer, said India should not just depend on the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd — manufacturer of COVISHIELD — and Bharat Biotech International Ltd — which makes COVAXIN — to fight COVID-19 as they might not be able to cater to everyone and therefore, foreign vaccines should also be put to use.

    Petitioner Nazia Parveen has also urged the court to direct the Centre and Delhi government to add more vaccination centres and upgrade the infrastructure for streamlined vaccination.

    Advocate Sanjeev Sagar, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that there was a huge difference in the number of people who took the first dose of vaccine and those who took the second dose.

    He said this issue can be addressed by giving preference to the people who have received the first shot by having separate lines for them at the vaccination centres or by vaccinating them on separate days and timings when those between ages of 18-45 years are not being vaccinated.

    “In this manner chaos and spread of COVID will be prevented and vaccination will be done smoothly,” the petition has said.

    The plea has also sought dispensing with the registration for vaccination with regard to the economically weaker section so that they are also vaccinated.

    Besides that the plea also seeks status of vaccine doses ordered for the drive starting May 1, 2021 and their delivery details.

    The petition also seeks directions to the manufacturers and suppliers of COVID vaccine to supply the same to Delhi on priority in view of the situation in the national capital.

  • Four lakh COVID-19 vaccinations for 18-44 age group in three days; highest in Gujarat

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Covid-19 vaccination for 18-44 age group which started on Saturday has seen a little over 4 lakh jabs administered to people in the category across 12 states in the first three days.

    Over the last 24 hours, 2.15 lakh beneficiaries in the age group got the shots.

    Gujarat, which is by far ahead of all other states in managing to providing vaccine to the younger lot, has seen 1,08,188 or nearly 25 % of all vaccinations so far for this age group, followed by Rajasthan (75,817) and Maharashtra (73,455).

    The only other state where more than 50,000 people in the category have got the shot, is Haryana.

    In the country, vaccination for all adult population has started from May 1 under the Centre’s liberalised and decentralised policy amid crippling shortage of vaccines due to which even the prioritised groups are struggling to secure shots for themselves.

    Not surprisingly, over the last 24 hours, only 16. 5 lakh vaccine doses were given out, taking the total doses administered to 15.88 crore.

    Experts have pointed out that the government needs to aggressively carry out the vaccination drive, which started in phases since mid-January, to effectively control the raging pandemic.

    On Monday, the government however said that it has placed fresh orders last weeks for 11 crore doses of covishield and 5 crore doses of Covaxin, expected to be delivered from May through July even though Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are yet to deliver their first orders fully.

    Experts on the other hand have expressed worry over the decline in daily vaccinations as the 7-day average jabs was only 22 million compared to 37 million 4 weeks back at its peak, marking a 40% decline in average daily vaccinations.

    So far, only about 3% of eligible adults in India got 2 doses each while less than 13.5 % population has received a single dose.

  • Centre dismisses reports alleging non-procurement of COVID vaccines

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Health Ministry on Monday said that 100 per cent advance of Rs 1732.50 crore was released to the Serum Institute of India on April 28 for 11 crore doses of Covishield vaccine during May, June and July.

    The amount, which after TDS was Rs 1699.50 crore, was received by the SII on April 28 itself, it said.

    As on date, against the last order of 10 crore doses for supplies of Covishield vaccine, 8.744 crore doses have been delivered till May 3, the ministry said, adding, media reports alleging that the Centre has not placed any fresh order for COVID-19 vaccines are “incorrect and not based on facts”.

    #Breaking: @MoHFW_INDIA responds to reports that fresh orders for #CovidVaccines have not been placed, says payment made last week for 11 crore doses of #Covishield and 5 crore doses of #Covaxin from May-July. @NewIndianXpress #COVIDSecondWaveInIndia
    — Sumi Dutta (@SumiSukanya) May 3, 2021

    Additionally, 100 per cent advance of Rs 787.50 crore (after TDS Rs 772.50 crore) was released on April 28 to Bharat Biotech India Ltd (BBIL) for five crore Covaxin doses during May, June and July.

    The amount was received by them on April 28.

    As on date against the last order of two crore doses for supplies of Covaxin vaccine, 0.8813 crore doses have been delivered till May 3, the ministry said.

    “Hence, to say that fresh orders have not been placed by Government of India is not correct,” it said. As of May 2, the Centre has provided more 16.54 crore vaccine doses to states and union territories free of cost.

    More than 78 lakh doses are still available with them to be administered, the ministry said.

    “More than 56 lakh doses, in addition, will be received by states and UTs in the next three days,” it stated.

    Under the Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, Government of India would continue to procure its share of 50 per cent of the monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) cleared vaccines and would continue to make it available to the state governments totally free of cost as was being done earlier, the ministry stated.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Covishield production in full swing in Pune, says Poonawalla 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Serum Institute of India CEO Aadar Poonawalla has said that the production of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield is in full swing in Pune and he will review the operations once he is back in the country.

    Poonawalla is currently in the UK to meet his family members. “Had an excellent meeting with all our partners & stakeholders in the UK. Meanwhile, pleased to state that COVISHIELD’s production is in full swing in Pune. I look forward to reviewing operations upon my return in a few days,” Poonawalla said in a tweet.

    India rolled out the third phase of its COVID-19 vaccination drive for those in the age group of 18-45 years on Saturday though the inoculation process failed to take off in some states due to shortage of vaccines.

    While Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir among other states and union territories launched the vaccination drive, Karnataka and Odisha made only a symbolic start to it.

    Poonawalla on Saturday had spoken out about the pressures he was under over the production of COVID-19 vaccines to meet the ever-increasing demand in India as the country battles through a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

    In his first comments since he was provided with Y category security by the government earlier this week, Poonawalla told ‘The Times’ in an interview about receiving aggressive calls from some of the most powerful people in India, demanding supplies of Covishield — the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that the Serum Institute is producing in India.

    That pressure is largely behind his decision to fly into London to be with his wife and children, the 40-year-old entrepreneur had said.

    The businessman indicated in the interview that his move to London is also linked to business plans to expand vaccine manufacturing to countries outside India, which may include the likes of the UK.

    Last week, SII announced a cut in price of the jab it plans to sell to states to Rs 300 per dose from the earlier Rs 400.

    The price cut came after a widespread criticism of its pricing policy as it had sold the initial doses of Covishield to the central government at Rs 150 per dose. Covishield is the most used COVID-19 vaccine in India. It along with Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is being used by the government for vaccination in the country.