India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed the landmark of 49 Crore on Thursday. Cumulatively, 49,53,27,595 vaccine doses have been administered through 57,64,712 sessions, as per the provisional report. According to Union Health Ministry,  57,97,808 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

 

The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced from 21st June, 2021. The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country. Out of the people infected since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,10,15,844 people have already recovered from COVID-19 and 41,096 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours. This constitutes an overall recovery rate of 97.36%.

More than 136 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses are expected to be available till the end of this year, the Ministry said. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has sent a Note to all MPs detailing about the vaccine production targets. It also mentions that for the next four months, India's vaccine programme will be accelerated by the Serum Institute of India's (SII) Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

The note titled "Covid-19 Public Health Response Pro-active, Pre-emptive and Graded Response guided by Epidemiological and Scientific Rigour" said, "In August the vaccine projection of Covaxin will be 2.65 crores, Covishield will be 23 crores and total a 25.65 crore doses will be produced in the month. In September the projection of Covaxin is 3.15 crore and Covishield will be 23 crores, which in total will be 26.15 crore doses. In October the total of 28.25 crore doses will be produced out of which Covaxin will be 5.25 crore and Covishield will be 23 crore doses."

Additionally, 28.25 crore doses will be available in November of which 5.25 crore will be of Covaxin and 23 crore of Covishield. In December the projection of Covaxin will be 5.25 crore and Covishield will be 23 crore doses, which in total will be 28.5 crore doses for the month.

As per an advance order placed by the Centre for August to December 2021, 75 per cent of Covishield vaccine doses will be procured at Rs 215.25 per dose at a total cost of Rs 8,071.87 crore.

The note has also mentioned the government will buy 28.5 crore Covaxin doses from Bharat Biotech at Rs 225.75 per dose at a cost of Rs 6,433.87 crore.

On Sputnik V production, the note says, "Sputnik V is not yet produced till July and it is expected to be manufactured 25 million doses in August, September, and October by Panacea. Thereafter there is no clarity/visibility as it depends on the bulk to be provided by Russia for filling. So, total production for the year can be expected to be 2044.16 million doses."

The Union Health Ministry gave a presentation to MPs on the Covid situation in the country and action taken during the crisis.

India has reported 44,643 daily new cases in the last 24 hours. Less than 50,000 Daily New Cases have been reported since forty consecutive days. This is a result of sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs. India’s Active Caseload today stands at 4,14,159 and active cases now constitute 1.30% of the country's total Positive Cases. With substantially ramped up testing capacity across the country, a total of 16,40,287 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours in the country. Cumulatively, India has conducted over 47.65 crore (47,65,33,650) tests so far. While on one side testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate currently stands at 2.41% and the Daily Positivity rate stands at 2.72% today. Daily Positivity rate has remained below 5% for 60 consecutive days now.