CoWin facilitates registration of users and scheduling of vaccination slots, besides other utilities. While registration is open to all, scheduling is a function of availability and supply of vaccines. For instance, if only 100 passenger trains seating a thousand passengers are running daily, and 10 lakh people log into IRCTC to book, we know where the issue stems from.
RS Sharma (File photo)
The CoWin platform has been inundated after registrations opened for the 18-44 group. The crush will ease with increased supplies, National Health Authority head R S Sharma told Sushmi Dey. Excerpts from the interview:
One finds a lot of noise around CoWin at present, mainly with users not finding a slot while trying to schedule appointments. CoWin facilitates registration of users and scheduling of vaccination slots, besides other utilities. While registration is open to all, scheduling is a function of availability and supply of vaccines. For instance, if only 100 passenger trains seating a thousand passengers are running daily, and 10 lakh people log into IRCTC to book, we know where the issue stems from. Further, the noise started surfacing particularly after registrations for18 to 44 years age group were opened. You will be amazed to learn how steeply skewed the demand-supply for vaccines is. The ratio stands at 6.5:1, which was an alarming 11:1 a week
NEW DELHI: With the first consignment of 1.5 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V already in India, many private hospitals, as well as some state governments, are in talks with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to finalise contractual agreements to procure doses that may become available for use by the end of the month, reports Sushmi Dey.
Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy’s Labs is the marketing firm for the imported jabs in the country and has conducted local bridging studies for Sputnik V in India. Apart from the 1.5 million doses that came on May 1, a second consignment with almost equal quantity is expected by end of this month. Overall, India will get 18 million doses of Sputnik V, three million in May, five million in June and 10 million in July, an executive said. The first consignments of Sputnik V are likely to start reaching private hospitals by end of this month. Apart from Sputnik V, supplies of existing vaccines are also expected to increase over the next few months.
Covid vaccine and cases tracker
22:38 (IST) May 11
9,717 new cases, 199 deaths and 12,440 discharges reported in Chhattisgarh today
22:37 (IST) May 11
Meat shops to be permitted to function up to 10 pm on 12th May for home delivery due to Ramzan. Travellers from other States to Kerala should carry an RT-PCR negative report not older than 72 hours: Kerala Government
22:00 (IST) May 11
Dilip Pandey (AAP leader) was contacted today but his phone was switched off. Later, an advocate called up enquiry officer & informed that he would submit reply tomorrow. This is in response to Pandey s mischievous tweet with misplaced allegations on police enquiry: Delhi Police
With a number of states complaining of vaccine shortage and temporarily shutting centres – at a time when the need is to increase the daily rate of jabs – the focus has intensified on the production and supply end of the chain.
Indications are that India’s vaccine production is expected to be limited for a few more weeks though a step-up is expected as Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech ramp up capacity, some of which is expected to be ready by next month, prompting the government to prioritise vaccinating segments that are seen to be more vulnerable.
Serum Institute, with a monthly capacity to produce 60-70 million doses, will increase production to nearly 100 million next month, which was its original target for January-February 2021. While it has supplied about 100 million doses so far for domestic use, this could cumulatively rise to about 470 million by August, depending on orders from the government.