Vaccine hesitancy now greatest threat in overcoming Covid pandemic: Adar Poonawalla
Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday Tweeted "vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic". This comes on a day when the health ministry report mentioned India has administered over 114 crore vaccines.
On a day when the health ministry reports mentioned that cumulative Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country had crossed 114 crore, Serum Institute of India CEO and owner Adar Poonawalla said: "Vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic."
In a tweet, Poonawalla wrote: "The vaccine industry has worked tirelessly to provide enough stocks for the nation. Today there are over 200 million doses available in states. I urge all adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic."
The vaccine industry has worked tirelessly to provide enough stocks for the nation. Today there are over 200 million doses available with states. I urge all adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic. — Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) November 17, 2021
A health ministry report, which was released on Wednesday, mentioned the country has already administered more than 114 crore vaccines.
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More than 65 lakh (65,73,687) vaccine doses have been administered till 7pm on Wednesday. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night, the ministry said.
The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from Covid-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry underlined.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase.
The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started on February 2.
The next phase of Covid-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
The country launched vaccinations for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1.
The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.
(With inputs from PTI)
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