Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today reviewed Public Health Response to COVID-19 and progress of Vaccination with Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
These states are depicting a higher growth rate in the number of daily cases, rise in positivity, high mortality and saturation of healthcare capacity.
During the review meeting, State Health administrators were advised to increase ICU and oxygenated beds and also take stock of availability of medicines and strengthen their medical workforce.
Taking note of the fact that all States require more vaccines to expand their vaccine coverage, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that production is being steadily ramped up to cater to increased demand.
Detailing the ramping up of vaccine production, he said, the country will have 51.6 crore vaccine doses by the end of July including the 18 crore doses already administered.
He said Sputnik vaccine has been approved and and this along with the slated approval of the new vaccine of Zydus Cadila, Serum Institute of India- Novavax vaccine, Bharat Biotech’s nasal vaccine and the Genova mRNA vaccine will push the availability of vaccines to 216 crore doses in the August to December period.
States were also advised to ensure complete utilization of available vaccination slots for above 45 year age-group, Healthcare and Frontline Workers with awareness campaigns.
It was reiterated that States need to focus on reduction of vaccine wastage.
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