Health Ministry orders 44 Cr COVID-19 vaccine doses till Dec 21

Based on the various representations received by the Union Government, the vaccination for all adults above 18 years of age was opened with the onset of Liberalised Phase III of India’s vaccination strategy on May 1, 2021. Now with the aim to further universalise the countrywide vaccination drive, all citizens above 18 years of age can receive the COVID-19 vaccine doses free of cost at Government health facilities. In immediate follow-up of the Prime Minister’s announcement of these changes in the Guidelines of National

COVID Vaccination programme on June 7, the

Union Health Ministry has placed an order with Serum Institute of India for 25 crore doses of COVISHIELD and with Bharat Biotech for 19 crore doses of COVAXIN. These 44 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be available till December 2021, starting now. Additionally,

30 per cent of the advance for procurement of both the vaccines has been released to Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.