Centre Expects 188 Crore Doses To Vaccinate All Adults By December

New Delhi: The Centre told the Supreme Court on Saturday that the government expects around 188 crore vaccine doses from five different manufacturers to vaccinate the entire population by 2021-end.

As per the government, only about 5.6 per cent of India’s adult population has taken both the jabs.

“Total population — above 18 years of age — is approximately 93-94 crore. As such, administering two doses to these beneficiaries would require an estimated 186 to 188 crore vaccine doses. Out of this requirement, 51.6 crore doses will be made available for administration by July 31, leaving a requirement of approximately 135 crore vaccine doses for complete vaccination to the eligible population,” the Centre said in an affidavit filed by Additional Secretary, Health Ministry, Manohar Agnani.

“Sputnik V vaccine, developed by M/s Gamaleya Institute, Russia has received Emergency Use Authorization by the DCGI in April 2021 and is now being administered in India,” the affidavit said.

According to the government, vaccines from domestic pharmaceutical giants Biological E and Zydus Cadila are in the late stages of clinical trials and subject to regulatory approvals. Zydus Cadila is working on a vaccine for 12-18 years of age and will be available soon, the government further said.

The top court will examine the affidavit on June 30.

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