The Union health ministry on Friday informed that a total of 1.92 crore doses of covid-19 vaccines–Covishield and Covaxin–will be supplied to states/UTs free of cost from May 16 to May 31.
Out of the total, 1.62 crores will be Covishield doses, while 29.49 lakh will be Covaxin doses, the health ministry said.
“The basic objective behind informing the states and UTs in advance of the quantum of free vaccine doses to be made available from Government of India for 15 days is to ensure that they prepare effective plans for judicious and optimum utilization of these free vaccine doses which are meant for the age group of 45 and above, and healthcare and frontline workers,” the ministry said.
The ministry further said that apart from these doses about 4.39 crore doses are left that can be procured by states and private hospitals directly from the two manufacturers – Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.
The ministry stated that the allocation of the Centre’s supplies will be decided on the consumption pattern and beneficiary load for second doses during the upcoming fortnight.
The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country is nearly 18 crore.
