The allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to States and Union territories has been done in a completely transparent manner, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.
The Centre's clarification comes against the backdrop of news reports alleging non-transparent allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to States/UTS.
The central government said the allegations are "completely without any basis".
"Government of India continues to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to States/UTs in a transparent manner. Information about the vaccine supply by the Government of India, consumption by the States/UTs, balance and unutilised vaccine doses available with States/UTs, along with vaccine supply in the pipeline is regularly shared through press releases made by Press Information Bureau, and also through other forums," according to an official statement.
The Union Health Ministry said distribution of COVID19 vaccine is done based on the population of a state, caseload or disease burden and State's utilisation efficiency. The Union Health Ministry also clarified that allocation is negatively affected by vaccine wastage.
Meanwhile, more than 30 crore vaccine doses have been provided by the Centre to states and union territories so far, Union Health Ministry informed on Thursday.
As per the latest data, 30,33,27,440 vaccine doses have been provided by the Centre through the government of India (free of cost channel) and through the direct state procurement category. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages, is 28,43,40,936 doses.
"The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining the vaccine supply chain," the official statement read.
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the government of India has been supporting the states and Union Territories by providing them COVID vaccines free of cost.
In the new phase of the universalisation of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Union government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs.
More than 1.89 crores (1,89,86,504) balance and unutilised COVID vaccine doses are still available with the states/UTs to be administered, it informed.
"Furthermore, more than 21,05,010 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the states/UTs within the next 3 days," the Health Ministry mentioned.
( With inputs from ANI )
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