In the statement – the second within the past week, the health ministry quashed media reports claiming there was 32 per cent less vaccination within the past one week against the previous one.
“It is clarified that each one states or UTs are being informed much beforehand about the doses which will be available during the month of July 2021, including the availability to non-public hospitals. The states or UTs are advised to plan their Covid-19 vaccination sessions supported the supply of the vaccines”, the statement read.
The ministry also informed that after discussion with the vaccine manufacturers, it had already been conveyed to all or any states or UTs that they're going to receive “more than 12 crore doses” of Covid-19 vaccine in July.
“Till today morning, over 2.19 crore doses have already been supplied to all or any states or UTs from July’s supply”, the statement added, reiterating that the health ministry is informing the states “adequately in advance” about the availability of vaccines being sent to them.
According to the statement, states or UTs have also been asked to share their demand for vaccine doses with the Centre just in case there's a requirement for more due to increased coverage.
The ministry’s statement on Wednesday comes each day after it struck down media reports claiming Covid-19 vaccine shortage led to the closure of some vaccination centres in Rajasthan.
The Centre said Rajasthan had quite 1.69 lakh unutilised stock of vaccine jabs as of July 1, and under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination programme, the state was given over 8.89 lakh doses of vaccine between July 1 and 6.
“In addition, Rajasthan would receive a further 3,951,000 doses during the remaining a part of July 2021. Hence, in entire…July, Rajasthan will receive quite 5,090,000 vaccine doses”, the statement by the health ministry read.
The Centre also clarified that Covid-19 vaccines being a biological product, its manufacturing process “takes time” and doesn't “translate into immediate supply”.
Last week, due to vaccine shortage in Maharashtra, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state vaccination centres suspended their vaccination drive in Mumbai. On Saints Peter and Paul , 3,87,644 Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered within the state, which dropped to 2,56,019 on June 30, and rose marginally to 2,72,714 on July 1.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Noida, a government district hospital was flooded by beneficiaries, who flouted coronavirus norms, to urge their jabs. chatting with ANI, the chief medical superintendent said that the gang was thanks to the hospital not getting enough vaccines for 2 days.
On Thursday, during a veiled jibe at the appointment of Mansukh Mandaviya because the Union health minister amid cabinet reshuffle, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Does this mean no more vaccine shortage?
Notably, Dr Harsh Vardhan’s resignation came as shocking to several as he was widely applauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his management of the continued coronavirus crisis in India.
