Gita Gopinath, International Monetary Fund’s Chief Economist, told NDTV today that with 50 per cent vaccination, India is high in confidence, especially within the backdrop of the many nations failing to satisfy the 40 per cent target. But concern remains a couple of third wave, and therefore the country, must “keep an eye fixed on inflation”, she said.
“The target was to induce 40 per cent of population of each country vaccinated by the tip of this year. And lots of states haven’t achieved that. That’s a worry. the main target should air that,” she told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
India has to date administered around 96.7 crore vaccine doses and is anticipated to cross the landmark of 1 billion, or 100 crore, next week.
Sources said the health ministry is expecting the milestone on Monday or Tuesday.
Around 73 per cent adults have received a minimum of one dose, and around 30 per cent are given both doses, sources said.
“With such an outsized population, you (India) have already got your 50 per cent vaccinated that provides you confidence. But the chance that there can be a 3rd wave remains,” said Ms Gopinath, who earlier said an honest vaccination rate is additionally helpful for the economy.
Drawing a parallel with the US, she said there’s a vaccine hesitancy within the US which has a spin-off effect on the economy.
“We saw consumption flat-lining within the US. That’s one among the factors for downgrading US growth. the most factor driving that’s Delta variant — which stopped the momentum and disruption in supplies,” she said.
Then she added, “In US, there’s vaccine hesitancy. Everybody knows that we’d like a far higher vaccination rate”.
India — which faces many challenges with respect to the financial market in sight of the virus — has to listen to inflation, she said. “Oil prices are growing, power outages, energy prices that’s rising. But the key aspect is to “address the pandemic, keep the arrogance high (through more vaccinations),” Ms Gopinath added.
