As many states in India struggle to continue the vaccination drive against COVID-19, the Centre on Thursday (May 13) said that 216 crore vaccine doses will be made available in the country in five months.
The Centre said between August and December this year two billion doses will be available for Indian citizens.
“Enough to vaccinate the entire population,” it added.
“Overall, 216 crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India between August-December – for India and for Indians. There should be no doubt that vaccine will be available for all as we move forward,” Niti Aayog Member V K Paul said.
Overall, 216 crore doses of vaccines will be manufactured in India between August-December – for India and for Indians. There should be no doubt that vaccine will be available for all as we move forward: Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/T2ELYt2H4q
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2021
He added that by the first quarter of the next year, the number is likely to be three billion.
Those doses would include 75 crore of Covishield, as well as 55 crore doses of Covaxin, VK Paul told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.
According to Paul, Biological E is expected to produce 30 crore doses, Zydus Cadila to produce five crore doses, Serum Institute of India 20 crore doses of Novavax, and Bharat Biotech 10 crore doses of its nasal vaccine, Gennova will make available 6 crore doses, and Sputnik V 15.6 crore doses of the Covid-19 vaccine by this year.
Paul added that so far nearly 18 crore doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in India.
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