The central government has also been facilitating direct procurement of vaccines by States and UTs

With vaccination being an integral part of the Indian government’s comprehensive strategy to contain and manage the pandemic, States and Union Territories have been provided with over 200 million doses of Covid vaccines free of cost, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Ministry further said the Central government has also been facilitating direct procurement of vaccines by the States and the Union Territories.

From May 1, implementation of the liberalized and accelerated Phase 3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination has started.

Under the Strategy, in every month 50% of the total Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) cleared vaccine doses of any manufacturer would be procured by the Government of India. It would continue to make these doses available to the state governments totally free of cost as was being done earlier.

The Central government has so far provided, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, more than 200 million (20.78 crore) vaccine doses to States/UTs. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages, is over 180 million (18. 83 crore) , as per data available at 8 AM on May 18.

As per the Ministry, nearly 20 million (1,94,57,458) Covid-19 vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered.

Furthermore, 1 lakh (1,00,000) vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the States/UTs within the next 3 days.

In the second quarter of May 2021 ( May18 to May 31), nearly 20 million (1 crore 95 lakh) doses would be made available free of cost by the Government of India to all States/UTs.

This advance information has already been shared with States/UTs by the government.

In addition, more than 7 million (72.40 lakh) doses would be available for direct procurement by the States/UTs.