More than 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to become available: Govt

Over two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be available in India between August and December this year, said Dr VK Paul, member of Niti Aayog – the government’s topmost think-tank.

Of the two billion doses, the bulk of 750 million (75 crore) doses would comprise of Covishield, Dr Paul said. The vaccine is currently being produced by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII).

Around 550 million (55 crore) doses of Covaxin, made by Hyderabad’s Bharat Biotech Limited, would also be available in the period, Dr Paul added.

The central government has so far procured 35.6 crore vaccine doses, including both Covishield and Covaxin, the Health Ministry said in the press briefing. Another 16 crore doses are in pipeline to the states and private hospitals, it added.