India has become the fastest country to administer 17 crore covid-19 vaccine doses
Bengaluru: India has become the fastest country to administer 17 crore covid-19 vaccine doses, a statement from the Union health ministry said on Monday.
While China took 119 days, the US took 115 days for reaching the same landmark.
It might be recalled that India started the drive in the middle of January. It was healthcare workers who got inoculated first. Later, it was given to other age groups.
A total of 17,01,76,603 vaccine doses have been administered through 24,70,799 sessions, according to the provisional report till 7am.
India’s vaccines:
Presently, India is producing two vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin. While serum produces Covishield, Bharat Biotech is producing Covaxin.
India is also testing nasal drops:
“Injectible vaccines only protect up to lower lung, but the upper lungs and nose are not protected. People vaccinated may get an infection. But the vaccine will prevent you from hospitalisation. You might get a fever for two-three days. But mortality will be reduced,” Managing director of Bharat Biotech Dr Krishna Ella was quoted by Republic TV as saying.
“If you take one dose of nasal vaccine you could block the infection and thereby block the transmission chain and then you can flatten the curve. It is just about four drops like polio, two in one nostril and two in the other. Now global authorities like the WHO are getting convinced about nasal as a second-generation vaccine,” Republic TV added him further as saying.
India has also okayed Sputnik V vaccine:
The development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the ongoing Covid-19 situation on April 28. It will also receive another three million doses in June and around 10-million doses in July.
Dr Reddy's Laboratories has joined hands with the Russian Direct Investment Fund to produce Sputnik V in India. A few weeks ago, India had approved the use of the Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus in the country.
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