Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said the govt. has launched an inquiry into a report claiming that counterfeit versions of Covishield, India’s primary anti-COVID-19 vaccine, had been seized. “It has been claimed that duplicate versions of Covishield vaccine were sold within the country. The Indian government is probing this claim, and can take action if it found any substance to the allegations,” he told reporters in Rajkot.
The report about counterfeit vaccine allegedly being seized quoted the globe Health Organization.Mandaviya, who was recently elevated as health minister, also said that three more vaccines for adults would be available in India soon.
“At present three vaccines are available in India – Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik. In coming days, three more vaccines would arrive, including one from Zydus Cadila. the opposite two are from Genova and Biological Evans,” he said.
On the Centre’s arrange to tackle a possible third wave of the pandemic, he said it’s already earmarked Rs 23,000 crore for the aim.
“We have planned to stay a buffer stock of medicines worth Rs 1 crore in each district together with one cryogenic tank for the availability of medical oxygen. we’ve also planned to deploy one ambulance at a block level. Hospitals are instructed to order beds for COVID-19 patients and have separate beds for infected children,” he said.
Mandaviya took out ‘Jan Ashirwad Yatra’ from Rajkot on Thursday and visited Virpur and Khodaldham temples on the primary day of the tour.
