Despite the massive vaccine drive, there are presently not enough COVID vaccines to vaccinate people in certain states in India. The health ministers of Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand particularly held a virtual press conference on Sunday stating that their states do not have enough COVID vaccines to begin the third phase of the nationwide inoculation drive on May 1.
Punjab, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh said they may not be able to meet the increased demand for vaccines amid lack of adequate manufacturing capacity at Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech International to meet even the current demand from people above 45 years of age and healthcare and frontline workers.
Lack of the coronavirus jabs may upset plans to immunize all adults from 1 May and prolong India’s severe health crisis, states and experts warned on Monday, amid rising complaints about the vaccination drive.
On a cheery note, Maharashtra, the second-most populous state in India, became the first in the country to administer 1.5 Cr doses of the vaccine! Also, The heartening news is the lockdown in Maharashtra saw a drop in COVID cases. Presently, now even Maharasthra which promised free vaccines is unsure whether they will be able to go ahead with vaccinations due to vaccine unavailability.
In the meantime, the U.S. is to send COVID struck India the raw materials for vaccines as the Biden administration is under pressure to help with the ravaging pandemic in India and will also supply therapeutics, test kits, ventilators, and protective gear. In the meantime, time is running out.
There is just a little question..why are the vaccines being withheld to Congress-ruled states?