The Central Government is planning to increase coronavirus vaccinations significantly with a target of around 1 crore vaccinations per day starting mid-July or August. The Centre is expected to take up this initiative on a “mission mode” to achieve a maximum number of inoculations.
This comes as vaccine supplies are reportedly going to improve with Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech expected to manufacture more doses of their vaccines while the recently authorized Sputnik V vaccine is expected to start production and supply as well.
“It is a matter of around two months. Once supplies improve, the number of vaccinations per day will go up remarkably. We have to do it and planning is going on,” a senior official said while speaking to TOI.
Estimates currently show that nearly 20 crore doses of vaccines - 10 crore Covishield, 7.5 crore Covaxin, and 2.5 crore Sputnik V - will be ready to be supplied by July. Officials say that the number of vaccines may further increase if Pfizer and Moderna are approved for India.
Chairperson of the National Task Force on COVID-19 vaccinations, N.K. Arora said, “By August, we will have 20-25 crore vaccine doses per month. We are aiming to vaccinate 1 crore people every day”.
The government is also working on adding more coronavirus vaccination sites, particularly by utilizing the network of more than 1 lakh child immunization centres, especially in remote corners of the country.
Read - BMC Urges For Reduction In Gaps Between Two Doses Of Covishield For Foreign-Bound Students
Officials have said that vaccinations will see an uptick starting in June with the fear of infections subsiding among the population coupled with the increased supply of vaccines. Not too long ago, the Central Government decided to allow walk-in vaccinations for people in the 18-44 age bracket to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
While only 7.9 crore doses of vaccines were supplied by manufacturers in May, officials have said that the number will go up to 12 crore doses this month. The Centre will provide up to 6 crore doses to states and union territories this month to inoculate people over the ages of 45 as well as frontline and healthcare workers.
Additionally, 5.8 crore doses of vaccines will be made available for direct purchasing by private hospitals in individual states. The Centre is providing detailed information on vaccine availability so that states and UTs can prepare vaccination schedules and publish them in advance.
Also read - "How Did Hospital Procure Covaxin Doses When It Is Unavailable To BMC?" Asks Mumbai Mayor
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