Vaccine Shortage Hits Delhi - Arvind Kejriwal Has 4 Suggestions For Centre To Boost Output

Meanwhile, Health Ministry has claimed that 1.6 crore doses are still available with states and union territories.

New Delhi: Soon after vaccination centres for those in the 18-44 years age group were said to be closed in the national capital due to lack of doses, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving him suggestions on boosting country's vaccine production. 

While appealing Centre to supply adequate amount of vaccines to Delhi, Kejriwal asserted that it is imporant to speed up the vaccination drive in order to protect the country from third wave of Coronavirus. 

From Sunday, all vaccination centres for youths in Delhi will be closed as stocks have run out, Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference earlier in the day.

Delhi requires 80 lakh doses a month to vaccinate its youth. But it only received 16 lakh doses in May. The Centre has further decreased Delhi's quota in June to 8 lakh doses, Kejriwal said.

According to Delhi government, it needs 2.5 crore doses to vaccinate all adults and thus Kejriwal urged Centre to raise the quota and supply to the city.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief also shared four key suggestions with PM Modi to boost country's vaccine production. Here's what he said:

1. Delhi CM suggested central government should, within 24 hours, direct all capable companies in the country to start manufacturing Covaxin as Bharat Biotech has agreed to share its formula. 

2. Kejriwal also suggested that foreign vaccine makers should be allowed to rollout their vaccines in 24 hours adding that Centre should speak to international manufacturers, buy from them and distribute to states.

3. Kejriwal also pointed out that there are several countries that have stocked more vaccines than they need and government should reach out to such nations and seek assistance.

4. Last, but not the least - Kejriwal said that foreign vaccine manufacturers should be granted permission to manufacture jabs in India.  

Kejriwal's suggestion to boost vaccine production came on a day when India reported 2,57,299 fresh cases of Covid-19, lowest rise in infection since April 21, even as 4,194 people died due to the pandemic in last 24 hours.