India has paid advance of $206 million to local firm Biological E for 300 million vaccine doses.
COVID 19 vaccine
Amid criticism over shortage of COVID 19 Vaccine, the Indian government has signed its first purchase order with a local firm Biological-E amounting to $206 million for an unapproved vaccine in advance, the health ministry said.
Presently, the unapproved Covid-19 vaccine from the Indian firm is in Phase 3 trials. The good news is that it’s showing promising results in the first two phases.
The government will buy 300 million doses from the firm, the health ministry adds.
This decision has come after drawing flak over the slow process of vaccine drive.
The ministry stated in a statement that the deal with M/s Biological-E is a part of an attempt of the Government of India to propel indigenous vaccine manufacturers in providing them support mechanism in Research & Development (R&D) and also financial support.
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Till now, India has administered over 220 million jabs. Although 1.4 billion population are eligible for the vaccine. Out of which, less than 10 per cent of the country has received at least one dose of the vaccination. The reason is the scarcity of vaccines.
Currently, there are three vaccines that are available-AstraZeneca vaccine produced locally at the Serum Institute of India (SII), the Covaxin made by local firm Bharat Biotech and Russia’s Sputnik V is under roll out.
Though the covid cases numbers are declining, India is still to cover a large number of population. Out of 950 million adult population, just about 4.7 per cent has received both doses.
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Presently, India adds more than 100,000 news cases per day. More than 340,000 deaths from the virus so far have been reported.
Free vaccines are available to the elderly and frontline workers. While state governments and private hospitals are administering doses to people in the 18 to 45 age group at a pre-decided price.
Government is showing its best efforts in reaching out the masses through vaccine drives. The government said that the supplies are improving and by July and August as many as 10 million doses each day.
