The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 2.06 crore, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.
 
The nationwide vaccination drive against COVID-19 was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers, while frontline workers stated receiving vaccine shots from February 2. Providing the second dose of COVID-19 shots started on February 13.
 
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced fromMarch 1for those senior citizens and for people aged 45 years and above with specified comorbid conditions
 
According to a provisional report till Saturday7 pm, a total of 2,06,62,073 vaccine doses have been given.
 
These include 69,72,859 healthcare workers and 65,02,869 frontline workers who have taken the first dose, 35,22,671 healthcare and 1,97,853 frontline workers who have taken the second dose, 4,60,782 beneficiaries more than 60 years and 30,05,039 aged 45 and above with specific comorbidities.
 
On Saturday, the 50th day of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination, till 7 pm, a total of 11,64,422vaccine doses were given, the health ministry said.
 
Out of these 9,44,919 beneficiaries were administered the first dose and 2,19,503 healthcare and frontline workers received the 2nd dose according to the provisional report, the ministry said.
 
The9,44,919 beneficiaries include6,26,805 people aged over 60 and1,14,036 aged 45-60 with comorbidities.
 
Developments in Canada
Meanwhile Canada announced its approval of the use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, making it the fourth vaccine that can be administered in the country.
 
“After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, the Department has determined that the vaccine meets Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements,” Health Canada said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.
 
Developments in Europe
 
The European Commission will sign a deal to secure up to 300 million doses of the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer.
 
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU’s executive arm, said the commission will authorize the deal on Wednesday after working tirelessly to secure doses of potential vaccines in recent months.
 
This is the most promising vaccine so far, von der Leyen said. Once this vaccine becomes available, our plan is to deploy it quickly, everywhere in Europe. Pfizer said Monday that early results from the vaccine suggests the shots may be a surprisingly robust 90% effective at preventing COVID-19.
 
Developments in Japan
 
Japan also formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine during February second week
 
Japan’s health ministry said it had approved the vaccine developed and supplied by Pfizer Inc.
 
The announcement comes after a government panel confirmed that final results of clinical testing done in Japan showed that the vaccine had a similar efficacy as shown in earlier tests overseas.