India has so far recorded a total of 18 million infections, with a record 360,000 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours, the same source said.
Figures that could be higher according to experts who attribute this new wave to the “double mutation” of the virus but also to mass events, such as political meetings and religious festivals including the Khumb Mela which brought together millions of Hindu pilgrims.
India has so far administered 150 million vaccines and from Saturday the programme will be extended to all adults, meaning an additional 600 million people will be eligible.
In an effort to vaccinate its population, India has blocked exports of the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured on its soil by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and recently decided to accelerate emergency approvals of all anti-Covid-19 vaccines that have been authorized by Western countries and Japan, paving the way for possible imports of Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax and Moderna vaccines.
However, many states are reporting vaccine stockouts and experts are calling on the government to prioritize vulnerable groups and hardest-hit regions.
India recorded nearly five million new infections in April alone, dashing hopes earlier this year that it had overcome the worst of the pandemic.
2024-09-20 22:40:23