States, Union Territories to get 51 lakh jabs in next three days: Centre

A health worker collects swab sample of a passenger, at a Covid-19 testing counter, at Patna railway station, on Sunday. Pic/PTI

More than 1.84 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and UTs, while nearly 51 lakh doses are in the pipeline and will be received by them within the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. The Centre has so far provided more than 20 crore vaccine doses (20,28,09,250) to states and UTs free of cost, it said. Of this, the total consumption, calculated based on average up to May 14, including wastages, is 18,43,67,772 doses, according to data available at 7 pm on Saturday.

"More than 1.84 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses (1,84,41,478) are still available with the states and UTs to be administered. States with negative balance are showing more consumption (including wastage) than vaccine supplied as they have not reconciled the vaccine they have supplied to Armed Forces," the ministry said. It said 50,95,640 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by states and UTs within the next three days. Vaccination forms an integral component of the comprehensive strategy of Government of India of containment and management of the pandemic (including Test, Track, Treat and Covid Appropriate Behaviour). The Centre has been supporting the nationwide vaccination drive by providing Covid vaccines free of cost to states and UTs, in addition to several efforts to ramp up its production and supply, the ministry stated.

Implementation of the Liberalized and Accelerated Phase 3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination has started from May 1 as part of which the government has opened up inoculation for all aged above 18.

India's cases on the decline

Meanwhile, witnessing a decline in the last 24 hours, India on Sunday reported 3,11,170 new Covid-19 cases, and 4,077 fatalities, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. In the past 24 days, India's daily Covid tally has plateaued over the three-lakh-mark and over 3,000 casualties for 18 days. On Wednesday, India recorded 4,205 fresh Covid deaths, the highest ever, while on May 7, the country had recorded its highest ever cases of 4,14,188.

60,000 Sputnik V doses reach H'bad

The second consignment of the Sputnik V vaccine landed in Hyderabad on Sunday. A special cargo flight carrying 60,000 doses landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. Hyderabad Customs facilitated expeditious clearance of the imported vaccines. This came two days after first dose of Sputnik was administered in India.

Covaxin effective against virus strains

Bharat Biotech said Covaxin has been found to be effective against Coronavirus strains found in India and the UK. Citing a study published in peer-reviewed medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the Hyderabad-based vaccine major noted that vaccination with Covaxin produced neutralising titres against all key emerging variants tested.

2,46,84,077
Total no. of coronavirus cases in India so far

2,70,284
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India so far

36,18,458
Total no. of active cases in India

Also Read: Covid-19: Maharashtra's daily deaths at 974; Mumbai sees 1,544 new cases

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