Coronavirus vaccine: SII to give 2 crore Covishield doses worth Rs 410 crore to Central govt free of cost

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries, including China and South Korea, the government has sounded an alert and asked states and Union territories to prepare for any eventuality.;

Published On 2022-12-29 05:45 GMT | Update On 2024-02-13 20:36 GMT

New Delhi: The Serum Institute of India (SII) has offered two crore doses of Covishield vaccine to the central government free of cost amid a rise in COVID-19 cases in some countries, official sources said on Wednesday. According to an official source, Prakash Kumar Singh, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at the Serum Institute, has written to the Health Ministry offering the doses worth Rs 410 crore free of cost.

It is learnt that Singh has sought to know from the ministry how the delivery can be made. SII has so far provided more than 170 crore doses of Covishield to the government for the national immunisation programme.

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries, including China and South Korea, the government has sounded an alert and asked states and Union territories to prepare for any eventuality. India has stepped its surveillance and genome sequencing of Covid positive samples.

With only 27 percent of the eligible adult population having taken the precaution dose, government officials have appealed to those due for it to take it. Official sources on Wednesday cautioned that the next 40 days will be crucial as India may see a Covid surge in January.

Read also: COVID vaccine: SII seeks DCGI nod for market authorisation of Covovax as booster dose

Even if there is a wave, deaths and hospitalisation will be very low, the Health Ministry sources said. The government made random coronavirus testing mandatory for two percent of passengers arriving in each international flight from Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya have held meetings to assess the country's preparedness to deal with a fresh surge in cases. Mock drills were held at health facilities across India on Tuesday to check operational readiness to deal with any spurt in COVID-19 infection.

Read also: Kerala: Kozhikode Medical College conducts COVID-19 mock drill

Article Source : PTI

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Ruchika Sharma

Ruchika Sharma joined Medical Dialogue as an Correspondent for the Business Section in 2019. She covers all the updates in the Pharmaceutical field, Policy, Insurance, Business Healthcare, Medical News, Health News, Pharma News, Healthcare and Investment. She has completed her B.Com from Delhi University and then pursued postgraduation in M.Com. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in Contact no. 011-43720751

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Coronavirus vaccine: SII to give 2 crore Covishield doses worth Rs 410 crore to Central govt free of cost

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in some countries, including China and South Korea, the government has sounded an alert and asked states and Union territories to prepare for any eventuality.;

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