Centre denies vaccine shortage claims, says States still hold 1cr doses

New Delhi: Denying the vaccine inadequacy claim to begin the third phase of vaccination by some states, the Centre said that over 1 crore doses are still available with the states and union territories.

In addition to the existing doses, 80 lakh vaccines will be delivered to the States and UTs, the Union Health Ministry added.

In a statement, the Union Health Ministry said: "Government of India has so far provided more than 15 crore vaccine doses (15,65,26,140) to states/UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 14,64,78,983 doses. More than one crore doses (1,00,47,157) are still available with the states/UTs to be administered."

Meanwhile, 86,40,000 more doses will be received in addition by the states/UTs in the next three days, it added.

As per the ministry data, states having more than 3.70 lakh doses of vaccine as balance are Chhattisgarh (3,72,147), West Bengal (3,97,146), Madhya Pradesh (4,67,961), Tamil Nadu (5,13,119), Karnataka (5,42,725), Jharkhand (5,95,883), Gujarat (6,09,076), Bihar (7,50,587), Maharashtra (9,23,060) and Uttar Pradesh (10,10,581).

Referring to reports quoting some government officials from Maharashtra that the vaccines in the state are finished, thereby adversely impacting the vaccination drive, the Health Ministry sought to clarify that the total Covid vaccine doses received by Maharashtra as of April 27 (at 8 a.m.) are 1,58,62,470.

"Of this, the total consumption including wastage (0.22 per cent) was 1,49,39,410. A balance of 9,23,060 doses is still available with Maharashtra for the administration of vaccine doses to the eligible population groups. Furthermore, three lakh doses of Covid vaccine are in the pipeline for delivery in the next three days," it said.

The government said that vaccination is a crucial pillar of the five-point strategy of the country to fight the pandemic, which includes 'Test, Track, Treat' and Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) as the other complementing and equally important containment and management measures.

"Country has launched the world's largest vaccination drive on January 16 this year. A liberalised and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination will be implemented from May 1. In its Phase 3, the National Vaccine Strategy aims at liberalised vaccine pricing and scaling up of vaccine coverage. Procurement, eligibility and administration of vaccines have been made flexible as part of the Liberalised vaccination Strategy," it said.

(with inputs from IANS)