New Delhi (NVI): The government expects to receive 400-500 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, covering approximately 20-25 crore people in the country by July 2021, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Singh said today while outlaying the Centre’s plan to distribute the vaccines once they are ready.
Dr Vardhan was answering a question on the administration and management of Covid vaccines, in the fourth edition of “Sunday Samvad”, his weekly social media interaction with the public.
States given time upto end-Oct to submit lists of priority population groups for receiving #COVID19 vaccine, where priority shall be given to health workers.
We expect to receive & utilise 400-500 million doses & cover approx 20-25 crore people by July 2021. pic.twitter.com/po5Q4YyyDR
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) October 4, 2020
The Health Minister said that the Government is working round the clock to ensure there is fair and equitable distribution of vaccines once they are ready.
“There is a high-level expert body going into all aspects of the vaccine. Lists of cities and groups which will require vaccine administration on top priority are being drawn up by Health Ministry in association with State Governments,” Vardhan said in his weekly program.
For this, he said, the States have been given time upto October-end to submit lists of priority population groups for receiving the vaccine, where priority shall be given to frontline health workers.
“The list of frontline health workers include both government as well as private doctors, nurses, paramedics, sanitary staff, ASHA workers, surveillance officers, and any other frontline workers who are involved in tracing, testing and treatment of patients,” he added.
The Minister also assured another respondent that there would be no diversion or black-marketing. “Vaccines will be distributed as per pre-decided priority and in a programmed manner. To ensure transparency and accountability, details of the entire process will be shared in the coming months,” he said while stressing on the need to prioritize health care workers and adults or those have underlying health conditions.
India’s Covid-19 tally has crossed 65-lakh mark, with a spike of 75,829 new cases and 940 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The country is currently at the second spot in the number of Covid-19 cases, after the US.
-ARK
