In view of the threat posed by the possible third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre has ramped up the production of vaccines and essential medicines used to treat infected persons.

According to the Central government, the monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield is planned to be increased from 11 crore doses to more than 12 crore doses per month and of Covaxin from 2.5 crore doses to around 5.8 crore doses.

Meanwhile, the production capacity of Remdesivir has been increased from 38.8 lakh vials per month in mid-April to 122.49 lakh vials per month in June 2021. The Centre had told Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that there was no shortage of the antiviral drug in any state or Union territory.

The shortages of Remdesivir injections in the market were noticed in April and May 2021 due to a sudden surge in the demand for the drug for managing COVID-19 patients, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya had said in a written reply.

COVID situation in India

With 44,643 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, the active tally has surged to 4,14,159 and constitutes 1.30 per cent of total cases, according to the Union Health Ministry.

A total of 4,26,754 deaths have been reported so far out of which 464 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours, it said.

According to the health ministry, the weekly positivity rate, which is currently at 2.41 per cent, remained below 5 per cent, while the daily positivity rate, currently at 2.72 per cent, has been less than 3 per cent for the last 11 days.

Meanwhile, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed the landmark of 49 crore yesterday.

Cumulatively, 49,53,27,595 vaccine doses have been administered through 57,64,712 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today, while 57,97,808 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, as per the government data.