COVID-19 Infection Cases Reach 28 Million, India Speeds Up Vaccine Procurement

Illustration of a COVID-19 test. (Jakayla Toney/Unsplash)

JAKARTA - India reported its lowest daily increase in COVID-19 infection cases since April 11. However, at the same time, the number of COVID-19 cases in India has crossed the 28 million mark.

Launching Reuters Monday, May 31, India's Ministry of Health said the number of cases of COVID-19 infection in India in the last 24 hours recorded an increase of 152,734 cases. This is the lowest number since April 11.

However, the total number of cases of COVID-19 infection in India now stands at 28,047,534. Meanwhile, the total death toll from COVID-19 reached 329 deaths, after an increase of 3,128 deaths in the last 24 hours.

To continue suppressing the second wave of COVID-19, India is boosting its vaccination program, including boosting the availability of vaccine supplies. The Serum Institute of India, as the world's largest vaccine producer, targets to be able to produce around 90 million doses of vaccine, from the original 65 million doses per month.

Meanwhile, the Indian government is targeting to have 120 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by June, compared to the current availability of only 79 million doses.

It is known, India has provided around 212 million doses of the COVID-9 vaccine for its citizens, the largest in the world after China and the United States. However, this figure is only 3 percent of India's total 1.35 billion population.

Earlier last month, a government adviser said more than 2 billion doses of the coronavirus vaccine would likely be available in India between August and December this year, including from two domestic manufacturers.

Several Indian states have reported acute vaccine shortages, forcing many regions, including the capital New Delhi, to re-prioritize those over 45.

"For June, it is planned that 60.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be made available by the central government to states, to vaccinate health care and frontline workers and those over 45, while 58.6 million doses will be available. to be purchased directly by state and private hospitals, "the statement said.

To note, India has also just inaugurated the use of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, so that the country has three types of COVID-19 vaccines, after previously there were AstraZeneca and Covaxin vaccines.