India Covid Vaccine Update: People above 50 may gets next month
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| India Covid Vaccines: People above 50 may gets next month |
Covid-19 Vaccine in India: Who Get next
Speaking at a press briefing today, Vardhan reviewed the Covid-19 situation in India. Vardhan said that not a single coronavirus case has been detected in 188 districts in the country over the past seven days.
"We will be in a situation to administer vaccines to those above 50 years of age in March... In the last 7 days, no new cases of COVID19 have been reported in 188 districts of the country," Harsh Vardhan said. Earlier, in Lok Sabha, Vardhan had said that inoculation of those aged above 50 is likely to commence in March and will cover 27 crore people aged 50 years and above and those with co-morbidities.
The vaccination drive began on January 16, starting with healthcare workers and then the frontline workers, both estimated to be around three crore. "After the completion of first and second phases, the third phase could be launched from any week next month," Vardhan said. He added that the third phase will cover people above the age of 50.
He also emphasised the importance of maintaining social distancing and Covid appropriate behaviours amid the pandemic. "It is crucial that people continue to follow COVID appropriate behaviour which I had called a social vaccine, along with real vaccine," the health minister said.
The health ministry also said that a new flagship program of PM Atmanirbhar Swastha Bharat Yojana has been announced. "Budget has referred to a holistic approach toward health and health care. Allocation to the health sector for 2020-21 is 1.8% of GDP," the ministry added.
He also informed not one death reported due to Covid-19 vaccination. If there's death after vaccination, it's being investigated. Even routine side effects have a negligible number. Relevant stakeholders working on post-Covid symptoms.
80-85 per cent frontline workers vaccinated
He, however, appealed that it is crucial that people continue to follow COVID appropriate behaviour along with the real vaccine. "80-85 per cent frontline workers vaccinated, 20-25 countries to be availed with the vaccine. At least 18-20 vaccines are in preclinical, clinical & advanced stages. Expect them in the coming months," he further added, Timesnownews report
The Union Health Minister expressed confidence that if the dream of 'Health for All' is ever to be fulfilled in the world, its model will be developed in India. "Our holistic approach, ancient medical wisdom, other health facilities and systems collectively will make a model emulatable for the world," he said, news agency ANI quoted.
Vardhan said that COVID-19 crisis helped strengthen the country's health potential as India turned a crisis into opportunity. "From 1 lab to 2,500 labs, we improved. Genome sequencing, which is being talked about now, has been in Indian labs since May-June last year," he further added.
India is set to become a vital Covid vaccine maker
India has received requests for vaccines from 22 countries. These countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa and the UAE.
Analysts say the country has the capacity to produce for both its own population and other developing countries. Even before Covid-19, India produced up to about 60% of the world’s vaccines —and at a relatively low cost.
According to CNBC, Consulting firm Deloitte predicts that India will be second only to the U.S. in terms of coronavirus vaccine production this year. PS Easwaran, a partner at Deloitte India, said more than 3.5 billion Covid vaccines could be made in the country in 2021, compared to around 4 billion in the U.S.
“We are expanding our annualized capacities to deliver 700 million doses of our intramuscular COVAXIN,” said Indian firm Bharat Biotech, which developed a Covid vaccine together with the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research.
Another vaccine — known as Covishield in India and co-developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford — has also been granted emergency approval in India. It is being produced locally by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
According to Reuters, SII makes around 50 million doses of Covishield every month, and plans to increase production to 100 million doses a month by March.
