India to have over 2 billion vaccine doses during August-December, enough for all: Centre

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday said that over two billion doses of Covid vaccines will be available in India between August and December this year which will be sufficient to vaccinate the entire population.
The assurance from the Centre comes as several states are grappling with a shortage of vaccines, which has slowed down the nationwide immunisation programme.
In a media briefing, Niti Aayog member VK Paul said that more Covid vaccines will be available in the near future besides the ones that are already in use.

"Two billion doses (216 crore) will be made in the country in five months for India and for people of India. Vaccine will be available for all as we move forward," Paul said.
He added that by the first quarter of the next year, this number is likely to be three billion.
Paul estimated that between August and December, nearly 75 crore doses of Covishield and 55 core doses of Covaxin will be made available.

He said that the Russia-made Sputnik is also likely to be available in the market by next week. A shipment of 150,000 doses of the Sputnik vaccine had arrived in the country earlier as it battles a raging second wave of the pandemic.
Further, Biological E is expected to produce 30 crore doses, Zydus Cadila 5 crore, Serum Institute of India 20 crore doses of Novavax, and Bharat Biotech 10 crore doses of its nasal vaccine, while Gennova will make available 6 crore doses and Sputnik V 15.6 crore doses.

The vaccine candidates of Biological E, Zydus Cadila, Gennova, Bharat Biotech's nasal vaccine are in various stages of clinical trials.
On the procurement of vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, Paul said the government is in touch with these firms through the Department of Biotechnology and the ministry of external affairs.
"We asked formally whether they would like to send doses to India, manufacture in India, we will find partners. They said they will talk about vaccine availability in Q3 (quarter 3). We have intensified this process with Moderna, Pizer and J&J and we hope they will come forward," Paul said.
"This is happening at the highest level," he stressed.
"We invite (them). They make vaccines here, make it with our companies through technology transfer. Under the new strategy, that channel is open and we will support in every possible way," he said.

The government has already said that India is the fastest country globally to reach the landmark of administering 17 crore doses in 114 days.
Currently, anyone who is above the age of 18 is eligible to get vaccinated against Covid.
Paul also defended the Centre's vaccination policy, which several states have criticised.
Many opposition-ruled states have been opposing the policy which mandates them to procure vaccines, nationally and internationally. Opposition states chief ministers too have been demanding free vaccines for all.
Replying to such criticisms, Paul said, "States wanted flexibility. It (the vaccination policy) was in that response. There was also a demand that there should be (availability of doses) in the private sector," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)