Photo for representation. Tribune
New Delhi, October
The government’s covid vaccination programme is in its final stages, and the Ministry of Health decided to buy more vaccines for the time being and ceded Rs 4237 crore, or only about 85% of the 2022-23 inoculation budget allocation, to the Ministry of Health. Finance.
Official sources told PTI that more than 1. 8 crore of doses are still missing from the Central and state governments and that the inventory is enough to continue the vaccination crusade for about six months, given the low intake of vaccines among other people. due to the drop in the case of Covid load.
Even if the government’s inventory runs out, Covid vaccines will be available on the market.
“Any resolution to procure Covid vaccine doses through government channels or download (fresh) budget allocations for this goal after six months will feature the coronavirus scenario prevailing in the country at that time,” an official source told PTI.
As part of the national vaccination crusade that began on January 16 last year, the Indian government has supported states and union territories by offering them loose COVID-19 vaccines.
Since covid cases have been low, a sense of complacency among other people has evolved and there hasn’t been much demand for vaccines despite the government carrying out a 75-day crusade, “Amrit Mahotsava covid vaccination”, to administer booster doses to all adults free of charge.
“Given this and the vaccines in the inventory close to their expiration date, a resolution has been made to avoid purchasing vaccines for the time being. In addition, the Ministry of Health of the Union has ceded to the Ministry of Finance the balance of Rs 4,237. 14 crore of its budget allocation for 2022-23 of Rs 5000 crore for inoculation purposes,” he said.
Cumulative doses of the Covid vaccine administered in the country crossed 219. 32 crore rupees, according to interim reports as of 7 a. m. on Sunday.
Official resources said that 98% of India’s adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 92% have been fully vaccinated.
In addition, 83. 7% of adolescents aged 15 to 18 years were vaccinated with the first dose since vaccination began for this age group on January 3, while 72% gained both the first dose and the current dose.
In the 12-14 age group, 87. 3% gained the first dose while 68. 1% are fully vaccinated.
More than 27% of the overall eligible target population aged 18 years and older has received precautionary doses to date.
The national vaccination crusade was presented on January 16 last year, and fitness staff were vaccinated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline staff began on February 2 last year.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination began on March 1 last year for other people over 60 and older than forty-five with specific comorbidities.
Vaccination for everyone over the age of forty-five began on April 1 last year. The government then expanded the scope of the vaccination crusade by allowing anyone over the age of 18 to get vaccinated against covid starting May 1 last year.
Inoculation of older adolescents ages 15 to 18 began on Jan. 3.
India began administering preventive doses of vaccines to frontline and fitness staff and others over 60 with comorbidities starting Jan. 10.
The country began vaccinating children aged 12 to 14 starting March 16 and also removed the comorbidity clause that makes everyone else over 60 eligible for the precautionary dose of the Covid vaccine.
On April 10, India began administering preventive doses of COVID-19 vaccines to all other people over the age of 18.
The cumulative doses of vaccine administered in the country surpassed the 100 million rupee mark on October 21 last year and 150 million rupees on January 7 this year. Total doses administered domestically surpassed the 200 crore mark on July 17.
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