Over 18.28 Crore Balance, Unutilised COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Still Available With States, UTs: Centre

The Centre on Saturday (11 December) said that over 140 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been supplied to states and union territories so far through various channels.

It further added that over 18.28 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories (UTs) to be administered.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said that the Centre has so far provided more than 140 crore (1,40,07,00,230) Covid vaccine doses to states and UTs so far through Government of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category.

More than 18.28 crore (18,28,89,386) balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, the Health Ministry said.

According to the ministry, under the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, implementation of which started from 21 June, every month 75 per cent of the total vaccine doses being produced by the manufacturers would be procured by the Centre and will be supplied free of cost to states and UTs.

The ministry further said that the government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.

"The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to states and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain," the ministry said.