In order to reach the government’s target, vaccinations to increase sharply

The Covid-19 vaccination sites in India to be increased to 5 folds after examining almost nine million shots in a month, according to a government official.

In spite of providing vaccines to only around 300,000 frontline workers per day, India claims itself to be the first in reaching the inoculation milestones. In order to reach up to the government’s target of covering 300 million of its 1.35 billion people by the end of August, the vaccination drive needs to increase sharply, as quoted from experts.

Vinod Kumar Paul, the head of the government panel on vaccine strategy has stated in a news conference that the continual vaccination program of the frontline workers that includes nurses and doctors have taught India how to boost up the campaign.

Few hours after receiving the second phase of a government-aided vaccine, he further stated, “This learning will be of great use. We are currently running 10,000 – 11,000 immunization sessions. We will do four to five times of that when we start the next phase; wait for the pace to pick up”.

People in India over the age of 50 and under medical treatment shall be immunized from next month.

Since the vaccination drive that has started on January 6, India has covered 60 percent of its 10 million health workers. Among the 36 states, not many as 11 or federally controlled territories haven’t yet reached half the number.

Rajesh Bhushan, Health Secretary has commented, “These are not very unsatisfactory figures. We agree that like in any other field, there is a scope for improvement”.

India is using vaccines manufactured by Bharat Biotech, the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research, and another license possessed from AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Russia’s Sputnik V and products from Cadila Healthcare, Novavax, and Johnson & Johnson are all lined up.

As a part of a diplomatic push, India has exported Covid – 19 shots to as many as 24 countries.

It has been a sheer wonder for Indians as to why the government isn’t expanding home coverage when it has shipped 17 million doses that include nearly 6 million as presents to partners such as Bangladesh and Nepal. New Delhi has as far as only ordered 31 million doses for its own campaign.

Happymon Jacob, teacher of diplomacy at Jawaharlal Nehru, New Delhi twitted, “I love my neighbors and friends, but should I love them at my expense (literally) and to my detriment?”