Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan said on Friday that India would be in a position to vaccinate at least its entire adult population by the end of 2021. He held a meeting through video conferencing to review the status of the pandemic in nine states and union territories. In it, he said, “Between August and December 2021, India will purchase 216 million vaccine doses, while by July this year 51 crore doses will be procured.”
According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, Harsh Vardhan also spoke on speculation about mutation of the virus in future and its effect on children and said that health facilities are being upgraded to deal with any such emergency.
The Health Minister emphasized the need to expedite vaccination and reiterated that the Central Government should provide 70 percent dose for the second dose. The statement said that they also requested the states and union territories to be vigilant about the waste of vaccine.
He said that the government is supporting vaccine manufacturers to increase the availability of vaccines in the country. He hoped that in the coming months the production of vaccines in the country will increase rapidly. According to the statement, the Health Minister also said that by the end of the year, the country will be in a position to vaccinate at least its entire adult population.
The Health Minister has expressed concern over the ever increasing corona cases in small states. There is a steady increase in the cases of Covid in these states. While Chhattisgarh saw a positivity rate of around 30 percent at the beginning of this month, Himachal Pradesh currently has more than 35,000 active cases. The death rate in Himachal Pradesh is 1.44 percent, much higher than the national average. The Union Health Minister attributed the state’s status to weddings and super-spreader programs.
Harsh Vardhan assured the states of all possible assistance from the Center to increase their vaccination campaign. Whatever vaccines we have available, we have to give them as soon as possible. There will be a significant increase in production capacity in the country in the coming months. Harsh Vardhan directed the states to ensure that their populations follow Covid-appropriate behavior and continue testing, tracking, tracing, treatment and vaccination.
