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If coronavirus infections surge again, the lack of vaccines could make millions of people vulnerable.
Local news reports said on Friday that the Indian government has ordered 660 million doses of vaccines for the largest purchase from August to December, as national authorities and health experts warned that if coronavirus infections surge again, shortages could cost millions. People are in a disadvantaged position.
The federal government’s goal is to vaccinate all the estimated 944 million adults nationwide by December. Health experts say the goal is ambitious because only 8% of people currently receive the mandatory two-dose vaccine.
Several states have reported shortages of vaccines, many vaccination centers have closed, and people have to wait a long time elsewhere to get the vaccine.
The government has now ordered 375 million doses of AstraZeneca (AZN.L) locally produced Covishield and 285 million doses of Bharat Biotech’s indigenous Covaxin. Economic Times The newspaper quoted a source.
The Ministry of Health did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The Serum Institute of India, which produces Covishield, has increased its monthly output to approximately 100 million doses.
The government stated that Bharat Biotech’s monthly output will increase from approximately 10 million doses in April to 70 million doses in July/August. It said that by September, production may further increase to nearly 100 million.
Bharat Biotech, which has been working hard to increase vaccine production, did not respond to a request to update its production plan.
“I expect the vaccine shortage will continue. Based on the planned vaccine supply, the daily average level for the entire July seems to remain below 4 million,” said Rijo John, a health economist and professor at the Rajagiri School of Social Sciences. In the southern city of Kochi.
After a record 9.1 million doses were injected on June 21, less than 4 million doses were injected daily this month.
Due to the lack of imported supplies, the full launch of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine in India has also been delayed. However, commercial production of vaccines in India may begin soon.read more
India’s daily Covid-19 cases have fallen to a nearly two-month low, and the country is still the second highest country in the world in terms of the number of daily infections.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, India reported 38,949 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours on Friday, bringing the national total to more than 31 million. The total death toll is 412,531.
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