Third Phase Of Covid Vaccination Drive Likely To Start In March, Those Above 50 Yrs To Be Inoculated

Vardhan also remined the House that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated a sum of Rs 35,000 in Union Budget for vaccination drive and has also assured that the amount will be increased if required.

New Delhi: The third phase of Coronavirus vaccination drive in the country is likely to take place in the month of March and around 27 crore people aged 50 years and above and those with co-morbidities will get the jabs, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said in Lok Sabha on Friday. In response to queries related to Covid vaccines and vaccination drive during Question Hour, Harsh Vardhan said that nearly 50 lakh people have been inoculated in the country so far adding that vaccination drive for frontline workers has begun this week.

"In coming days, 27 crore people who are of above 50 years of age and those under 50 with co-morbidities will be vaccinated," Vardhan said. India's mega vaccination drive kickstarted on January 16, starting with healthcare and frontline workers, both estimated to be around 3 crore.

"After the completion of first and second phases, the third phase could be launched from any week next month. The third phase will cover people above the age of 50." Vardhan said. The Union Minister, however, mentioned that it would not be possible to tell an exact date, but estimates suggest that the third phase vaccination drive could begin in third or fourth week of March. 

Vardhan also remined the House that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated a sum of Rs 35,000 in Union Budget for vaccination drive and has also assured that the amount will be increased if required.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that apart from Covishield and Covaxin, work is in progress on seven vaccines. "Of the seven, three vaccines are in phase 3 clinical trial stage. Two vaccines are in phase 1 and 2 clinical trial stages and the remaining two are in advanced pre-clinical stage," he said. 

Vardhan also informed that India has received requests for vaccines from 22 countries. These countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Morocco, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, South Africa and the UAE. There is also request from the Pacific Island countries.

Vaccines have already been supplied to as many as 15 countries through grant assistance and contracted doses adding that 56 lakh doses of Coronavirus vaccines have been sent through grants and five lakh through contracts.