Over 15 crore unused COVID-19 vaccines still available with states, says Centre

New Delhi: More than 116.54 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to states and Union territories so far through the Centre and direct state procurement category, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.More than 15.69 crore (15,69,46,111) balance and unutilised vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered.The Union government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID 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.Under the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the states/UTs by providing them COVID-19 vaccines free of cost.In the new phase of universalisation of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the central government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 percent of the vaccines being produced by vaccine manufacturers in the country to states/UTs, the ministry added.