“India has received requests for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines from 22 countries so far. The vaccines have already been supplied to 15 countries”, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Friday.
Replying to queries during question hour in Lok Sabha, the minister said the vaccines have been supplied both as grant assistance and contract doses.
“We have received requests for vaccine supply from 22 nations so far. Out of these, supply has already been made to 15 nations as grant assistance as well as contract doses. As of February 2, a total of 56 lakh doses have been given as grant assistance and 105 lakh as contracts doses,” the minister said.
The government has given emergency use authorisation to two vaccines– Covishield and Covaxin.
The minister gave the reply amid protest by opposition members over their demand for the repeal of three new farm laws.
Earlier today, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, vaccination of those above 50 yrs set to start in March
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the third phase of vaccination against Covid-19, for citizens who are above the age of 50 years and those who are younger but with serious co-morbidities, is likely to begin in March, possibly around the middle of the month.
Vardhan was replying to a bunch of questions on vaccination during question hour that lasted barely 15 minutes, with the opposition members protesting against the contentious farm bills.
The government had recently indicated that the over-50 group would receive shots soon and there might be an initial preference for persons over 60 years.
