In order to increase the number of daily administered vaccine doses, the Central Government increased the supply. On the 16th of July, the Government of India (GoI) ordered 66 crore vaccine doses against the deadly Wuhan virus also known as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19.)
Of the total 66 crore doses, the Central Government ordered 37.5 crores of Covishield and 28.5 crores of COVAXIN. While Covishield is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII,) COVAXIN is made by the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech International Private Limited. The decision to procure the doses was taken to ramp up the supply of the vaccine doses and vaccines given.
The Central Government said, “There are two options before the Government. They can either increase the procurement prices or they can open up sales in the open market without price fixing. We have told the government (states/UTs) that unless one of these two is done, ramping up supplies will be tough.”
For this order, the Central Government released a total of Rs. 14,505.75 crores. The orders would be received in the span of 5 months, between August-December.
Of the total procured doses, 22 crore vaccines would be given to private sectors across the country. In addition, the fresh order has been placed with a hike in prices. Instead of the previous Rs. 150 per dose, now the GoI would pay an amount of Rs. 215.25 per dose for Covishield and Rs. 225.75 for COVAXIN.
Meanwhile, so far, since the beginning of the nationwide vaccination drive (the 16th of January,) the Central Government procured 40.31 crore Covid-19 vaccines, including both COVAXIN and Covishield.
The Central Government Press Information Bureau (PIB) released a statement on the 15th of July, regarding the same. The Statement read, “More than 40.31 crore (40,31,74,380) vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far, through all sources and a further 83,85,790 doses are in the pipeline. Of this, the total consumption including wastage is 38,39,02,614 doses.”
In addition, as of now, approximately 1.92 crores (1,92, 71,766) vaccine doses are available in states and UTs in India.
Stay tuned for further updates.
