Lok Sabha Question No. 171 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: First Phase of COVID Vaccination
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: K. Muraleedharan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 171 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH FEBRUARY , 2021 FIRST PHASE OF COVID VACCINATION

## *171. SHRI K. MURALE EDHARAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of persons expected to be provided COVID vaccine in first phase of vaccination including categories of persons covered;
- (b)  the  expected  date  by  which  the  firs round  of  vaccination  is  likely  to  be completed;
- (c) the total number of COVID vaccines doses that have been ordered by Drugs Controller General of India as on 20 January, 2021;
- (d)  whether  orders  placed  thus  far  are  expected  to  cover  all  the  p ons proposed to be vaccinated in the first round at the rate of two doses per and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a)to ( e)A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEME NT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 171* FOR 12 TH FEBRUARY , 2021

(a) to (e) The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID - 19 (NEGVAC)  provides  guidance  on  all aspects  of  COVID - 19  vaccination including  prioritization  of  population  groups,  procurement  and  inven management, vaccine selection, vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism etc

NEGVAC  has  recommended  priority  groups  for  administration  of COVID - 19  vaccines.  The  recommendations  of  NEGVAC  in  this  regard  have been  accepted  by  the  Government.  As  per  these  recommendations,  the prioritized groups comprise Health Care Workers, Front Line W rkers (which includes  State  and  Central  Police  departments,  Armed  Forces,  Home  Guard prison staff, disaster management volunteers and Civil Defense Organizat Municipal Workers, Revenue & Panchayati Raj Institution officials engaged COVID - 19  cont ainment, surveillance and associated activities) persons ab the age of 50 years and persons below 50 years with associated comorbidi An estimated 3 crore Health Care Workers and Front Line Workers as detail above are expected to be provided COVID - 19 vaccine during the initial phase of COVID - 19 vaccination drive.

COVID  vaccination  is  an  ongoing  and  dynamic  process  under  which more than 55% of the Health Care Workers have received 1 st dose of vaccine so far and vaccination of Front Line Workers have also begun from 2 nd February 2021. The beneficiaries as prioritized by NEGVAC subsequently will be tak up as part of ongoing process once substantial coverage of the vaccinati HealthCare Workers and Front Line Workers is achieved.

Two vaccines namely Covishield manufactured by M/s Serum Institute of India and Covaxin manufactured by M/s Bharat Biotech International Limit have been granted permission for restricted use in emergenc y situation by the National Regulator i.e. Drug Controller General of India [DCG(I)].

Supply orders amounting to a total of 410 lakh doses have been placed Government of India for both these vaccines. These supply orders also inc 100 lakh doses rece ived from Gavi support through Covax facility. The orders placed  so  far  are  sufficient  for  coverage  of  on - going  vaccination  drive  for Health  Care  Workers  and  Front  Line  Workers.  Procurement  of  additiona quantity of vaccines has also been factored in.

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