India set to achieve the 100-crore Covid-19 vaccination mark soon

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 13

With India set to achieve the 100-crore vaccination mark soon, the government is expected to showcase the event in a big way.

The Covid-19 vaccination programme will also be showcased as big achievement in the upcoming elections, sources said on Wednesday.

A government functionary said the 100-crore milestone can be expected around October 18-19, definitely in this month. The focus is on vaccinating the entire eligible population as early as possible and exporting vaccines will be considered only in the fourth quarter.

“Export of vaccines is not the priority now,” he said, adding that the government will see what the excess production is in the fourth quarter and then take a call.

So far as the booster dose for the vulnerable is concerned, a decision has not yet been taken. “There is no expert opinion in India over the booster doses,” he said.

India has already vaccinated more than 96 crore people.

The functionary also said that states have been provided sufficient number of doses to keep up the vaccination pace.

“As on date around eight crore vaccines are there with the states across the country. Majority of states have vaccinated more than 60 per cent of their population,” he added.