New Delhi: The Narendra Modi authorities on Tuesday knowledgeable the Parliament that almost 188 crore COVID vaccine doses are required to inoculate the 18-plus inhabitants as a part of the continued mass vaccination drive to fight COVID-19.
The govt stated that the projected 18-plus inhabitants within the nation is 94 crore and subsequently, the overall requirement of COVID-19 vaccine doses for the beneficiaries on this age group is 188 crore.
However, the quantity could scale back if, sooner or later, single-dose vaccines are accredited and used, the federal government instructed Parliament.
In a written reply to a query within the Rajya Sabha on whether or not the current COVID vaccine manufacturing corporations have the capability to produce the required amount, Minister of State for Health Bharati Praveen Pawar stated it’s estimated that round 1.87 billion (187 crore) doses shall be obtainable between January and December 2021.
In addition, just a few vaccines below improvement may obtain approval and could also be obtainable to be used to inoculate the eligible inhabitants, she added.
In a separate written reply, Pawar stated the value of the COVID vaccines declared by the 2 home producers for procurement by non-public hospitals is Rs 600 for Covishield and Rs 1,200 for Covaxin. In addition, Rs 948 is the value declared for Sputnik V, which is presently imported within the nation.
The authorities has mounted a most service cost of Rs 150 per dose over and above the value of the vaccines for administration at non-public COVID-19 vaccination centres (CVCs). However, the vaccines proceed to be supplied free of charge to all eligible beneficiaries on the authorities CVCs.
The producers are free to repair the value of the vaccines for procurement by non-public hospitals. However, the identical has to be declared in a clear method, which has been executed by the corporations, the minister stated.
Replying to one other query, Pawar knowledgeable that the COVID vaccines presently obtainable within the nation should not have VVMs (Vaccine Vial Monitors). The storage and transportation of the vaccines from the producer to the positioning of administration is ensured in a temperature-controlled setting at 2-8 levels Celsius.
The VVM is manufactured by a single offshore producer and requires end-point research at numerous length to finalise the kind to be used on every vaccine.
In view of the worldwide urgency to use COVID vaccines upon improvement, the requirement of a really excessive amount of VVMs and the restricted manufacturing capability, the vaccines are getting used with out VVMs the world over, the minister stated.
A sturdy chilly chain community of round 29,000 cold-chain factors, together with insulated or refrigerated vaccine vans, is used to make sure the storage and transport of the vaccines in a temperature-controlled setting.Â
The storage temperature can also be being monitored on a real-time foundation to be sure that the vaccines will not be uncovered past the really helpful storage temperature, the reply acknowledged.Â
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