Covid-19 Vaccine Registration in India, Coronavirus Cases in India Tracker, Covid-19 India June 22 Highlights: As the Modi government started universal free vaccination for all above 18 years on Monday, India inoculated a record 86.16 lakh people against Coronavirus on Day 1 of the new vaccination policy. Madhya Pradesh (16.01 lakh doses), Karnataka (10.86 lakh doses), Uttar Pradesh (6.9 lakh doses), Gujarat (5.05 lakh doses), and Bihar (4.88 lakh doses) lead the chart, according to a report by The Indian Express.
Under the new vaccination policy, which came into play from Monday, the central government will procure 75% of doses from vaccine manufacturers and supply them to states/UT for the free vaccination drive for all adults eligible to get inoculated. The rest 25% has been kept for private hospitals; the government has allowed them to levy a service charge of maximum Rs 150 for vaccination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated people for the record-breaking vaccination number, which is so far the highest since India launched the vaccination drive on January 16. However, the big question is: Will India be able to sustain the pace of vaccination? India needs enough vaccine supply to keep up the pace. Both Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) and Serum Institute of India have been ramping up vaccine production. According to reports, 12crore doses will be available by the end of this month, and 13.5 crore by July, compared to 7.5 crore doses in May.
The central government aims to vaccinate all of its adult population by the year-end. But it needs to maintain/ increase the pace of vaccination to achieve the target. The central government has decided to increase the pace of vaccination in July and August, Home Minister Amit Shah informed on Monday. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to provide free vaccine against COVID-19 to people aged 18 and above, “we will fast achieve the goal of inoculating almost everyone,” he said. With a likely increase in vaccine supply from July, the government expects states/UTs to administer 45 lakh doses daily.
India reported less than 50,000 new Covid-19 cases, the lowest in 91 days, in teh last 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data on Tuesday. With the fresh cases, the total tally of Covid-19 cases increased to 2,99,77,861. A total of 42,640 coronavirus infections were reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 3,89,302 with 1,167 daily fatalities, the lowest in 68 days; active cases fell below 7 lakh after 79 days, the Health Ministry said.
The country has been reporting below 1 lakh Covid-19 cases for the past two weeks. Active cases in the country have been falling sharply. Covid-19 deaths and positivity rate have also dropped. Overall, it seems the peak of the Covid-19 second wave is behind us. Several states/UTs like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana have started the process of unlocking/relaxed Covid restrictions as cases continue to fall.
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With 59 new fatalities, the death toll from the pandemic rose to 22,282 in Uttar Pradesh, while the virus count climbed to 17,04,678 on Tuesday as 255 more people tested positive for COVID-19, according to an official statement. – PTI
More than 70 per cent of Americans age 30 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the White House said, even as President Joe Biden is set to fall short of reaching his goal of giving a shot to the same percentage of all American adults by Independence Day. The Biden administration is releasing the new data Tuesday showing it expects to reach 70 per cent of Americans age 27 or older with at least one shot by the July 4 holiday. A White House official said it is now redoubling its focus on vaccinating younger Americans age 18-26, who have proved to be least likely to get a vaccine when it’s available for them. – AP
Moscow’s mayor ordered bars and restaurants to serve people only if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or had had an infection indicating immunity – one of the Russian capital’s toughest steps to fight the pandemic since last year’s lockdown.The Kremlin has blamed a renewed wave of infections over the last two weeks on the Delta variant and the slow pace of its vaccination programme even though four domestically-produced vaccines have been approved for use.Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Tuesday the new restrictions would take effect on June 28 and were needed to avert a stringent new lockdown.Residents who want to visit cafes, restaurants or bars will be required to present a QR-code showing they have either been vaccinated, had a confirmed COVID-19 infection within the past 6 months, or tested negative within the last 3 days.The Kremlin told Russians on Tuesday it was inevitable they could face discrimination in the workplace if they did not get vaccinated or had not COVID-19. – Reuters
The Kerala government on Tuesday announced further relaxations in the lockdown regulations, while cautioning the public against a possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new relaxations would come into effect from Thursday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a press conference here after a review meeting. The Chief Minister said the spread of the disease in the state is on the decline. As per the new guidelines, banks will function on Tuesdays and Thursdays also, but the public will not have access to the branches on these days. – PTI
Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad both recorded less than 10 new COVID-19 cases with the number of active patients reaching below 100 in both the western Uttar Pradesh districts adjoining Delhi, official data showed on Tuesday. Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded nine new cases and Ghaziabad added another four, according to the UP Health Department’s data for a 24-hour period. The number of active cases came down to 93 in Gautam Buddh Nagar while it was 77 in Ghaziabad, where the number had gone below 100 last week itself, the data showed. On the bright side, 38 patients recovered in Gautam Buddh Nagar and seven in Ghaziabad with the overall Covid recoveries in these districts surging to 62,453 and 54,968, respectively, it showed. – PTI
As India achieved a “historic milestone” of administering 88.09 lakh coronavirus vaccine doses in a single day on June 21, nearly 64 per cent of the jabs were given in rural areas, the government said on Tuesday, and noted that it has been made possible through “synchronised, well- orchestrated, converged approach” between the central and state authorities and the people. Addressing a press conference, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said Madhya Pradesh administered the maximum number of doses on June 21, followed by Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Assam. – PTI
Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 8,470 new coronavirus cases – up from 6,270 cases a day ago – taking its COVID-19 tally to 59,87,521, while 188 fresh deaths pushed the toll to 1,18,795, the state health department said. As many as 9,043 patients were discharged during the day, taking the number of recovered cases to 57,42,258, a statement from the health department said. On Monday, Maharashtra had reported 6,270 new coronavirus cases, a four-month low daily count, and 94 deaths. – PTI
Nagalands COVID-19 caseload increased to 24,438 on Tuesday as 64 more people tested positive for the infection, a health department bulletin said. The state reported more COVID-19 recoveries than fresh cases for the 17th consecutive day as 146 patients were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours. “64 positive cases detected today are Dimapur: 22, Mokokchung: 12, Kohima: 10, Peren: 8, Mon: 4, Wokha and Longleng: 2 each, Kiphire, Phek, Tuensang & Zunheboto district: 1 each,” said State Nodal Officer for Integrated Disease Surveillance Project Dr. Nyanthung Kikon in the daily COVID-19 bulletin. – PTI
The existing ban on inter-state movement of passenger buses between Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Maharashtra, imposed when a surge was recorded in COVID-19 cases, was on Tuesday extended up to June 30, an official said. – PTI
Facing a shortage of medical professionals to fight against COVID-19 in the state, the Jharkhand government on Tuesday approved one-time extension of services of retiring government doctors by up to 10 months, a government official said. – PTI
Gujarat reported 135 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the state’s tally to 8,22,620, while three deaths increased the toll to 10,037, an official said. – PTI
There is only one patient left on oxygen bed at Delhi’s Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre and Hospital and no patients are admitted to ICU beds there. But we have decided to keep the facility functional for some time, to deal with any eventuality: Vivek Pandey, ITBP Spokesperson – ANI
The main opposition AIADMK on Tuesday urged the Tamil Nadu government in the state Assembly to create one lakh beds for children to tackle the third wave of COVID-19, if it was to emerge. Medical Minister Ma Subramanian said all steps were being taken and an excellent infrastructure has been created to tackle any such eventuality. “There will not be a third wave and such a thing should not happen and even in case of a third wave, Tamil Nadu is ready to handle it,” the Minister said replying to opposition MLA, C Vijayabaskar, who was the Health Minister in the previous AIADMK government. – PTI
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday directed the state Education department to explore the possibility of restarting schools and colleges for students of classes 10 and 12 in the villages without COVID-19 cases. Those villages and towns which have not reported fresh coronavirus cases for a long time and where there are no chances of finding new infections could be considered for reopening of schools and colleges. Students can start going to schools and colleges and attend classes like the pre-pandemic period, the state government said in a statement. – PTI
Alarmed at new coronavirus strains like Delta and Alpha afflicting 328 people so far in recent days in Jharkhand, the state government has ordered sending samples of patients within 48 hours of their death for genetic study to help evolve a strategy to contain their spread, a top official said Tuesday. Battling the deadly second wave of the COVID-19 that has claimed 5,100 lives in tribal-dominated Jharkhand, the state government is concerned as these variants like Delta, Alpha, and Kappa are said to be more transmissible. – PTI
The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre and state government to expedite Covid vaccination for persons travelling out of the country, especially students, who are due for their second dose. The first bench’s direction came in a case taken up on its own on Covid-19 management in the state and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, however, closed the plea after it gave the directive. – PTI
A 36-year-old passenger from Uttar Pradesh was arrested for creating ruckus at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here after allegedly being denied boarding by the airline for not carrying a mandatory RT-PCR test report, police said on Tuesday. Suraj Pandey, a businessman from Rudrapur in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Monday based on a complaint received from Deepak Chadha, Deputy Manager of Vistara Airlines, they said. In his complaint, Chadha alleged that the passenger came to IGI Airport’s Vistara airline counter for heading to Mumbai by flight number UK933 but he did not have an RT-PCR report and was not allowed to board the aircraft, police said. – PTI
Uttarakhand reports 171 new COVID cases, 221 recoveries and 8 deaths today.
Active cases: 2,896
Total recoveries: 3,23,225
Death toll: 7,052 – ANI
Karnataka reports 3709 new cases, 8111 discharges and 139 deaths today.
Active cases: 1,18,592
Total recoveries: 26,62,250
Death toll: 34,164 – ANI
Delhi didn’t receive single dose of vaccine on June 21. After Delhi govt raised voice against Centre’s fake vaccination campaign, Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted that Delhi can use doses, which were meant for people of above 45 age, to vaccinate 18+ age group: AAP MLA Atishi – ANI
Pfizer now in final stages to get approval for COVID19 vaccine in India. I hope very soon we will finalize an agreement with the govt: Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla – ANI
No decision has been taken on Moderna indemnity clause. Discussion is underway: Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog – ANI
Goa reports 303 new COVID cases, 438 recoveries and 11 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Active cases: 2,920
Total recoveries: 1,59,029
Death toll: 3,008 – ANI
All shops will remain open from 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM. All restaurants/bars can remain open with 50% capacity from 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM. Night curfew in the city will be from 11:00 PM to 05:00 AM: Chandigarh Administration – ANI
Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is likely to get clearance from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) today: Sources – ANI
Jharkhand cabinet approves the proposal to declare black fungus as an epidemic: Vandana Dadel, Jharkhand Cabinet Secretary – ANI
Assam: Kamakhya temple closes doors for devotees. Ambubachi mela cancelled for second year in row due to COVID 19. Only rituals will be performed following COVID norms. Devot. – ANIes won’t be allowed to enter temple premises during mela days: Mohit Chandra Sharma, head priest – ANI
The health ministry on Tuesday said the Centre had ensured that the full supplies of COVID-19 vaccines under direct state procurement were provided to the states concerned before June 21. The ministry issued a statement, saying certain media reports have alleged non-supply of free vaccines for the 18-44 priority age group to the Delhi government amid the ongoing free COVID-19 vaccination drive. “It is clarified that the Government of India had ensured that full supplies of COVID-19 vaccines under the direct state procurement were provided to the concerned states before June 21,” the statement said. According to the state procurement data, the allocated 5.6 lakh doses of direct state procurement were supplied to Delhi before June 21 by the vaccine manufacturers. (PTI)
Rajasthan government has initiated several measures to persuade the “movable middle” population at the tribal hinterlands to go for free vaccination that started in the country on Jun 21. The measures include distributing ration kits, free travel to nearest Covid centres, and involving ‘bhupas’ (tribal priests) for trust-building exercise. READ FULL STORY HERE
The registration of a hospital in Bhiwandi in Thane district was canceled for a period of two months by civic authorities for alleged COVID-19 norm violations, officials said on Tuesday. They said the cancellation order was issued by Bhiwandi Nizampura Municipal Corporation chief Pankaj Ashiya due to discrepancies in billing and delay in submitting the mandatory report on COVID-19 deaths. “An audit committee found that the hospital overcharged COVID-19 patients to the tune of Rs 2.66 lakh in 2020-21 and Rs 12.22 lakh in 2021-22. Despite a directive to return the excess amount to patients, the hospital did not do so,” aC official said. (PTI)
Rural coverage of vaccines has been remarkably emphasized. 63.7% of the total vaccine doses administered yesterday were in villages and 36% in urban areas: Dr. VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog#COVID19 (ANI)
Between June 15 and June 21, there were 553 districts in the country where the positivity rate was less than 5 per cent: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan (ANI)
MP administered the highest number of doses over 17 Lakh. Over 11 lakh doses in Karnataka, over 7 lakh in UP, 5.75 lakh in Bihar, 5.15 lakh in Haryana & Gujarat, 4.60 lakh in Rajasthan, 3.97 lakh in Tamil Nadu, 3.85 lakh in Maharashtra & 3.68 lakh in Assam -top 10 states: Health Secy (ANI)
With nearly 8.6 million COVID-19 vaccines administered on 21 June, it was quite a feat! This is double that of the previous high of about 4.3 million doses of 5 April. One hopes this could be the ‘new normal’ and not an ‘uptick’ or a ‘surge’. To temper this with a dose of realism, it will take the next three months to vaccinate the adult population with at least a single dose at about 7.5 million doses daily, and a little over six months with two doses. Optimistic estimates of the national technical leadership have put a capacity of about 12.5 million vaccinations per day which shall lead to a proportionate decline in these numbers of days. These estimates assume an assured supply of about 200 – 220 million doses next month. READ FULL STORY
Karnataka: Govt allows functioning of all shops (other than air-conditioned shops, air-conditioned shopping complexes and malls) from 6 am to 1 pm in Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Davanagere, and Chamarajanagara districts with immediate effect and until 5 am of July 5, 2021. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh reports 4,169 new #COVID19 cases, 8,376 recoveries, and 53 deaths.
Active cases: 53,880
Total recoveries: 17,91,056
Death toll: 12,416 (ANI)
The European Union has decided to take up an option under a supply contract with drugmaker Moderna that allows the bloc to order 150 million additional COVID-19 vaccines produced by the U.S. biotech firm, the EU Commission said on Tuesday. The announcement comes a week after CureVac, a German biotech firm, said its COVID-19 vaccine was only 47% effective in a late-stage trial, missing the study’s main goal and casting doubt on the potential delivery of hundreds of millions of doses to the EU.The additional Moderna doses will be delivered next year, the EU executive said in a statement. (Reuters)
From inflammatory rashes to scaly patches, skin-related complications have been reported in some people after Covid vaccination, but the number of such cases so far is “very miniscule” to make a direct correlation, say dermatologists. While fever, body ache and weakness are common reactions in response to vaccination, doctors said a few people, after getting the jabs, have also complained of skin or other dermatological issues. At some of the leading hospitals in Delhi, skin-care specialists said some people, from the initial days to a couple of weeks since vaccination, have visited the facilities after exhibiting complications. However, dermatologists in Delhi and Mumbai said these cases are very few and far between and no major skin complications have been seen in people post vaccination, so they “should not hesitate” to get themselves inoculated against Covid. Dr Nidhi Rohtagi, Senior Consultant, Dermatology at the Fortis hospital, Vasant Kunj, said post-Covid dermatological complications have been reported in many cases, but post-vaccination skin issues are being seen too, but the percentage of such cases is “very miniscule”. “I have seen a couple of cases so far at our hospital. One male and and one female had developed skin reactions after a few days of vaccination. They had no known history of dermatological issues,” she said. “We prescribed topical steroids and after applying it, it disappeared in some days. So others should not worry. Covid vaccination is safe and these complications have been reported in such a small number of vaccinated people that one cannot directly link the two,” Rohtagi said. (PTI)