India at UN says will ramp up capacity with new vaccines

A health worker administers a vaccine dose at a camp in Bikaner. Pic/PTI

India has informed the UN that it will ramp up its production capacity as new Indian vaccines come on stream, emphasising that the supply chains of raw materials must be kept open as Covid-19 vaccines need to reach every corner of the globe. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti on Friday said that India has provided medical related assistance and subsequently, vaccines to numerous countries all over the world. "We meet at a time when the Covid crisis is nowhere near the end. However, with the introduction of vaccines, there is hope that we will finally be able to turn the corner," he said while speaking at the UN General Assembly General Debate of the Second Committee on Crisis, Resilience and Recovery: Accelerating Progress towards the 2030 Agenda.

UK-India co-op on Covishield

UK High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis on Saturday said that he is delighted with UK-India cooperation on Covishield and added that the next step is to increase the flow of people between the two countries as they are desperate to come here. "Those travelling from India can now enter the UK without quarantine," the High Commissioner said. "The next step is to get people moving between India and the UK. Easing the way for business travellers to come here and opening up more flights can get the flow of people," he added. Over possible recognition of Covaxin, the High Commissioner said, "We have to look at each process in terms of each vaccine. In turn, we start with the ones who are recognised by a regulator that includes obviously Covishield."

Syringe export restricted

The central government on Saturday put quantitative restrictions on export of syringes to boost their domestic availability and uptake. The restrictions will be applied to just three categories of syringes for three months. The Union Health Ministry has clarified that it is not an ‘export ban' on any kind/type of syringes; it is only quantitative restriction on the export of certain type of specified syringes for the limited duration of three months. Further, the syringes of denominations and types other than those mentioned above are not covered under quantitative restriction. "With firm political commitment to vaccinate India's last citizen, fulfilling the philosophy of ‘Antyodaya' espoused by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the Union government has put in place a quantitative restriction on export of syringes to boost their domestic availability and uptake," said a statement released by the Union Health Ministry.

Cases lowest in 206 days

India saw a single-day rise of 19,740 Covid-19 infections, taking the country's total tally of cases to 3,39,35,309, while the number of active cases has declined to 2,36,643, the lowest in 206 days, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll has climbed to 4,50,375 with 248 more fatalities.

Over 79L doses administered

India administered more than 79.12 lakh Covid-19 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday, adding that the country's vaccination coverage has nearly reached 94 crore. This has been achieved through 91,40,316 sessions.

3,39,35,309
Total No. of cases in the country as of Saturday

4,50,375
Total no. of deaths due to the virus in India

3,32,48,291
Patients recovered and discharged in India as of Saturday

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