According to an analysis of government statistics released on Monday, India will miss a target to administer over half a billion Covid-19 vaccine doses by the end of the month as Bharat Biotech, the country’s only approved indigenous vaccine, struggles to increase output.
India has launched one of the world’s largest immunization campaigns, distributing 430 million shots so far, more than any other country save China, but less than many others in terms of population.
In May, the government said that 516 million vaccinations will be accessible by the end of July. By December, it hopes to have vaccinated all 944 million adults in the country.
To fulfill the July deadline, authorities will need to increase average daily vaccines to 14 million doses. According to the most recent supply predictions for Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin vaccine, however, this will not be viable.
From July or August, the government expected to get 60 million to 70 million Covaxin dosages per month.
However, because a new production facility in the southern city of Bengaluru takes time to come online, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told parliament last week that Bharat Biotech will only supply 25 million tablets this month and 35 million in August.
Mandaviya went on to say that the supply shortage “would not have an impact on our immunisation campaign.”
A request for comment from the health ministry was not immediately returned. Bharat Biotech did not respond to a request for comment on its product.
Between August and December, the government expects 500 million doses of another vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) and 400 million doses from Bharat Biotech for its vaccination program.
In early January, India’s drug regulator approved Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency usage despite the lack of efficacy data. However, it has failed to meet nearly all of its government supply agreements.
A delayed deployment of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has also hampered vaccination efforts. In addition, India has been unable to receive donations of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines from the United States due to legal issues.
SII has virtually increased output in the last three months after halting exports in mid-April to meet domestic demand.
