1 dose 96.6 per cent effective in preventing deaths: Govt

Volunteers distribute free food to the needy after relaxation in COVID restrictions, in Guwahati, on Thursday. Pic/PTI

The Centre on Thursday said the efficacy of one dose of Covid-18 vaccine in preventing deaths was 96.6 per cent and that of two doses was 97.5 per cent. A press release by the Union health ministry said the efficacy was based on the analysis of vaccination data from April 18 to August 15, reported the Indian Express. "This vaccine protective effectiveness was among all age groups," India Today quoted Dr Balram Bhargava, DG ICMR, as saying.

18% adults fully vaxxed

The Centre also said that 58 per cent of India's adult population has received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, while 18 per cent got both the shots.

The Centre has placed a purchase order with the Serum Institute of India for 66 crore doses of Covishield to be supplied by December, official sources told PTI. It just placed an order with Bharat Biotech for 28.50 crore doses of Covaxin.

Officials said India is still going through the second wave of coronavirus infections and it is not over yet. They said 35 districts in the country are still reporting a weekly Covid positivity rate of over 10 per cent while in 30 districts it is between five to 10 per cent. They added that 68.59 per cent of the total infection reported in the country last week was from Kerala.

Nation's daily cases rise

India recorded 43,263 new Coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, while the active cases increased to 3,93,614, the Union health ministry's data updated on Thursday morning showed. The death toll climbed to 4,41,749 with 338 fresh fatalities, and the active caseload increased by 2,358.

3,31,39,981
Total no. of Coronavirus cases in India so far

4,41,749
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

3,93,614
Total no. of active cases in India

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