Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the latter’s allegation of vaccine shortage in the country and said that more than 13 crore doses have been administered in the country in July.

Quoting Rahul Gandhi’s tweet, the Union Health Minister also said that the number of COVID vaccination in the country is going to accelerate this month. “More than 13 crore vaccines have been administered in the country in July. The number is going to accelerate this month,” he tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

“I have heard that you are one of the 13 crore people who were vaccinated in July. But you did not speak a word for our scientists, did not appeal to the public to get vaccinated. Meaning you are doing petty politics in the name of vaccination. Actually not the vaccine, you lack maturity,” he added.

Rahul slams Centre over vaccine shortage

His attack came after Congress earlier today questioned the shortage of vaccines in the country amid claims by the government that 47 crore people have been vaccinated so far in the country. “July has also gone but vaccine shortage has not gone,” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

Rahul Gandhi has been persistently targeting the government over the vaccination supply shortage, while the government has been blaming vaccine hesitancy in the country.

Vaccination coverage cross 47 cr mark in India

On Sunday, the Centre had claimed that India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the landmark of 47 crore as 60,15,842 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

More than 49.49 crore (49,49,89,550) vaccine doses have been provided to States/UTs so far, through all sources and a further 8,04,220 doses are in the pipeline, it had said.

Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 46,70,26,662 doses (as per data available at 8 a.m. on Sunday). More than 3 Cr (3,00,58,190) balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs and private hospitals to be administered.