Boost to vaccination drive! Health Ministry places an order for 44 cr doses of Covishield and Covaxin
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New Delhi, June 08: Just the day after Prime Minister Modi announced the centralized COVID-19 vaccination policy, Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health at NITI Aayog, informed that the Health Ministry has placed fresh orders for 25 crores more doses of Covishield and 19 crore doses of Covaxin COVID-19 vaccines. He said that these 44 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be delivered by their makers between August and December 2021.
"The government has placed an order to purchase 25 crores doses of Covishield and 19 crore doses of Covaxin. The government has also placed an order to purchase 30 crore doses of Biological E's vaccine, which will be available by September,” Dr. Paul said.
Besides, Dr. Paul informed that govt has already released a 30 percent advance payment for the procurement of both the vaccines to the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech. "Additionally, 30 per cent of the advance for procurement of both the COVID-19 vaccines has been released to Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech," Dr. Paul said. He said the Centre has been supporting the efforts of states and union territories for an effective vaccination drive under the "whole of government approach" since January 16 this year.
The Niti Aayog member further said that the Covid-19 vaccines' price to private sectors (hospitals) will be decided by vaccine manufacturers."Vaccines' price to private sectors (hospitals) will be decided by vaccine manufacturers; States will aggregate demand of the private sector, which means they will oversee how much network of facilities it has, and how many doses does it require...," Dr. VK Paul, said.
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Dr paul further informed that the government has also placed an order to purchase 30 crore doses of Biological E's vaccine. The Corbevax vaccine being developed by Biological E is expected to be available by September if it clears all trials.
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Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the central government will provide free coronavirus vaccines to states and union territories for inoculation of all above 18 years of age from June 21. He further added that the Centre will account for the procurement of 75% of COVID-19 vaccines from the manufacturers and subsequently provide these free to the States for inoculation.
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