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India has 6.3 crore doses of Covid vaccines, currently, per month, Centre tells SC

The 18-44 years age group would need 122 crore doses for full vaccination. Less than 3 cr healthcare, frontline workers & people above 45 years have been fully vaccinated so far.

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New Delhi: India currently has a supply of 6.3 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines per month and is looking at 12.2 crore vaccine doses per month from July, taking into account the ramped up manufacturing capacities for Covaxin and Covishield, the Government of India has told the Supreme Court.

This means that to vaccinate people aged 18-44 years, the country — barring the availability of new vaccines — could take at least 10 months.

“It is submitted that projected mid-year population for the year 2021 for the age group of 18 to 45 years is about 59 crore. To vaccinate this target, a total of 122 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine would be required,” the government told the court in an affidavit submitted on 29 April. ThePrint has accessed a copy of the affidavit.

In addition, vaccine doses would also be required for the frontline workers, healthcare workers and people above 45 years, of whom less than 3 crore — that is less than 10 per cent of an estimated 30 crore people — are currently fully vaccinated. 

In addition to the vaccines manufactured in India, the country is also set to get some readymade Sputnik V vaccines from Russia over the next three months. The vaccines will be available in tranches of 6 million, 10 million and 20 million doses (for 3 million, 5 million and 10 million individuals) for the months of May, June and July 2021, the government told the court. 

These numbers are significant because the Government of India has been very reticent when it comes to sharing information about the number of vaccine doses ordered, the numbers available currently and those that will be available in the coming months. 

This is the first time that a document has arrived in the public domain where the vaccine manufacturing capacities and timelines are clearly laid down. 

The data also show that while India has been criticised for its slow pace of vaccinations, the country in April has administered more vaccines than the monthly capacity of what its two domestic manufacturers can churn out. 

In April, India administered 86,200,497 doses of the vaccines.

Soham Sen | ThePrint
Soham Sen | ThePrint

Also read: Tamil Nadu wasted 8.8% of its Covid vaccine doses, UP has the largest stock, govt data says


Ramp up of existing facilities

The affidavit stated: “Serum Institute of India Ltd. proposes to ramp-up production from 5 crore dose/month to 6 crore/month and further ramp-up in July 2021.”

“Bharat Biotech Intl Ltd. from 90 lakh/month to 1 crore and further upto 5 crore doses/month by July 2021. Sputnik-V is expected to increase production from 30 lakhs to 1.2 crore doses/month by July 2021,” it added.

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has engaged five other companies to manufacture Sputnik V vaccine in India in large quantities after the process of technology transfer from Russia is over. 

Locally manufactured Sputnik V vaccine will start from July onwards.

“It is expected that locally manufactured Sputnik V vaccine will be available to the extent of 8 million and 16 million doses (for 4 million and 8 million individuals) for the months of July and August 2021, respectively,” the government said.

Serum Institute of India is also collaborating with Novavax Inc to manufacture this vaccine and market the same as Covavax in India, for which Phase 3 bridging clinical trials are underway.

Subject to regulatory approval, it is expected that 25-30 million doses of this vaccine may become available in August 2021.

In addition to domestic manufacturing, India has also got one crore doses of Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India from GAVI, the vaccine alliance. 

‘Market forces should decide price’

In an interesting submission before the apex court, the Government of India, which managed to negotiate a price of Rs 150 per dose from vaccine manufacturers, has made a powerful argument in favour of “market forces” deciding vaccines prices. 

In a situation where demand is high and supplies are limited, many experts fear that it could lead to inequities in vaccine delivery.

“It is submitted that liberty to decide prices on arm’s length basis by and between the State Government and hospitals is based on the concept of creating an incentivised demand for the private vaccine manufacturers in order to instill a competitive market resulting in increased production of vaccines and market-driven affordable prices for the same,” the government said. 

Currently, Covaxin is available for Rs 400 to state governments and Rs 1,200 to private hospitals, while Covishield for Rs 300 for states and for Rs 600 for private hospitals. 

“This approach, on the one hand, incentivizes vaccine manufacturers to rapidly scale up their production and on the other hand, it would also attract new vaccine manufacturers. It would make pricing, procurement and administration of vaccines more flexible and competitive and would further ensure augmented vaccine production as well as wider availability of vaccines in the country,” the Government of India said. 

The MHA affidavit also argued that tightly controlling the price of vaccines may cause difficulty in securing adequate and multiple vaccine supplies.

“Especially in the current scenario where vaccination is a critical tool for prevention and pandemic mitigation, it is only advisable to allow vaccines additionally in the open market,” read the affidavit. 

(Edited by Debalina Dey)


Also read: Covid vaccines reduce chances of death and hospitalisation, US data shows


 

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1 COMMENT

  1. So, finally the cat is out of the bag. The government admits to the Judiciary that it has a tall target of vaccination to reach. If for the younger group of age between 18 tears to 45 years vaccination target is 122 crore doses, then for the entire country it would be in excess of 200 crore doses. Out of this only 15 crore done till April. A long march ahead and all hopes pinned on what happens in July, 2021. This reflects on two things. First the time taken for full vaccination may exceed one year, though government hopes to complete in 10 months. Secondly, the government knew it all along that the position was tight and yet it pretended that it has become a superpower in vaccine production. Why? Why does one pretend that he has a million when it he has only Rs.100 in the pocket? Why lie to the nation and to the international community? This is a very disturbing personality trait. Does this government deserve to remain in power? All other things are acceptable, even inefficiency. But lying to the nation! Sorry, but this is beyond my wildest imagination. This government may win elections after elections. But I have doubts how the history will judge this regime. Shame.

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