PUNE: All 12 crore Covid vaccine doses for July have been distributed fairly among states (depending on population size) and demands for more will have to wait until supply improves, health ministry officials have said.
“Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal in vaccine allocation,” an official from the ministry said.
On Friday, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had said that unless supply from the Centre improves, the state would not be able to streamline its vaccination programme. Maharashtra has been allocated 1.15 crore doses for July. It has asked for 1.5 crore doses.
The health ministry official, when asked about the state’s request, said any addition to its allocated supply will lead to gaps in supply and demand in other states.
The official said, “Gap in (vaccine) demand and supply is a global issue. Current vaccine manufacturers have increased their production by four times, but demand has gone up too. That’s why we started with priority groups (health and frontline workers), followed by vulnerable groups and then moved on to 45-plus and 18-plus groups.”
The official said the Centre is not doubting Maharashtra’s ability to ramp up its vaccine drive, but cannot send more doses as supplies are limited.
“Vaccine is a biological product and has to undergo the necessary checks before distribution. Even if states demand immediate supplies, these processes have to be carried out, which will delay the supply. Consistent quality of supply has to be ensured and that takes time,” said the official who didn’t wish to be named.
He said that vaccine “eagerness” has increased after the second wave of the pandemic, adding that production has been improved. “Vaccine production has been increased from 2.5 crore to 12 crore. Work is on, on all fronts. We are also adding vaccines from more manufacturers. But all this will take time. By next month, we will see the supply improving further,” the official said.
Officials also confirmed that the Central government is committed to allocating 50 crore doses till July and 135 crore vaccine doses between August and December this year. Authorities are also expecting daily vaccinations in the country to increase from 50 lakh to a crore.
