The death count is showing a clear declining trend in the countries with relatively better vaccination coverage, exposing the widening global health inequity
In the EOI, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) stated that the offered vaccine must be duly approved by a competent authority of the government of India.
States/UTs have been requested to direct the officials concerned to ensure rational and judicious utilisation of allocated doses, said the Union Health Ministry
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala – account for 59.25 per cent of the total doses given in the country so far.
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy highlighted that the southern state has only 2 lakh vaccine doses currently and another 2 lakh doses were expected to be received on Friday.
With over 32 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses administered till 8 pm on Friday, the country's cumulative count of vaccine doses has reached over 9.78 crore.
The health minister urged the Centre to give priority to Maharashtra, since the coronavirus cases were more in the state and the overall death toll was over 50,000.