Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 1
Nagaland will receive another 30,220 COVID-19 vaccines ‘free of cost’ in the first fortnight of May, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) on Saturday.
This is in addition to 3, 26,440 vaccines the Centre has provided so far to the State.
Data provided by the MOHFW in a press release via the Press Information Bureau informed that out of the total vaccines provided, Nagaland has consumed 2, 07,379 so far, inclusive of wastage.
There are still 1, 19,061 in balance in Nagaland, while more than 79 lakh doses are still available with the States/Union Territories (UTs) to be administered, claimed the MOHFW’s status update as on May 1, at 8am.
The balance availability of doses may be lower as the May 1 status as there is a time-lag in entry of offline sessions in Nagaland on the official CoWIN portal.
Meanwhile, vaccine wastage is still high in Nagaland at 4.13%, indicating that around 13481 doses were wasted from the total 3.36 lakh received.
The State, accordingly, was placed 9th among top 10 states/UTs reporting wastage.
Lakshadweep (9.76%), Tamil Nadu (8.83%) and Assam (7.70%) were placed first, second and third respectively reported wastage of vaccines.
Meanwhile, the MOHFW’s release also stated that the Government of India so far has provided more 16.37 crore (16,37,62,300) vaccine doses to States/UTs free of cost.
Out of this, over 15 crore (15, 58,48,782) have been consumed, indicating that still 79,13,518 does are still available for administration.
In addition, more than 17 lakh (17,31,110) vaccine doses will be received in addition by the States/UTs within the next 3 days, claimed MOHFW.
With the launch the Liberalised and Accelerated Phase-3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination for 18-19 age group from May 1, the states/UTs have to buy doses directly from vaccine companies but the Centre has said that it will continue to provide free vaccines to states for existing categories of beneficiaries - 45+, Health care workers and front line workers.
