On 1st April 2021, India opened COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged above 45 years irrespective of comorbidity in India. The cut-off date for the 45-plus years category is for persons born before 1st January 1977. Experts have appealed to citizens to get vaccinated. NITI Aayog Member and Chairman of National COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. V K Paul has appealed to people above 45 years of age to get vaccinated without hesitation. The Central government has directed the States and Union Territories to ensure timely utilization of available stocks to avoid the expiry date of vaccines. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on 31st March held a review meeting with all States and Union Territories on the COVID-19 vaccination drive and preparations. The meeting focused on the identification of low vaccine coverage pockets particularly in districts showing COVID surge and for taking corrective actions there. Meanwhile, India is poised to become a manufacturing hub for Russia`s Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, as it inches towards getting approval from India`s drug regulator. Many Indian companies will be using their unused biological capacity to manufacture Sputnik V. While 100 million doses can come immediately from Dr. Reddy`s, this can go up sharply as Sputnik has signed agreements with companies like Gland, Virchow, Strides and Hetero.
On 1st April 2021, India opened COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged above 45 years irrespective of comorbidity in India. The cut-off date for the 45-plus years category is for persons born before 1st January 1977. Experts have appealed to citizens to get vaccinated. NITI Aayog Member and Chairman of National COVID-19 Task Force, Dr. V K Paul has appealed to people above 45 years of age to get vaccinated without hesitation. The Central government has directed the States and Union Territories to ensure timely utilization of available stocks to avoid the expiry date of vaccines. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on 31st March held a review meeting with all States and Union Territories on the COVID-19 vaccination drive and preparations. The meeting focused on the identification of low vaccine coverage pockets particularly in districts showing COVID surge and for taking corrective actions there. Meanwhile, India is poised to become a manufacturing hub for Russia`s Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, as it inches towards getting approval from India`s drug regulator. Many Indian companies will be using their unused biological capacity to manufacture Sputnik V. While 100 million doses can come immediately from Dr. Reddy`s, this can go up sharply as Sputnik has signed agreements with companies like Gland, Virchow, Strides and Hetero.
