Modi urges vaccination amid Delta variant concerns

NEW DELHI • India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people yesterday to overcome their hesitancy and get Covid-19 vaccinations as soon as possible, as concerns grow about the highly infectious Delta variant being detected in some states.

After a fall in infections from last month's daily peak of 400,000, India has redoubled its efforts to inoculate the country's 940 million adults amid supply constraints and fears of a third wave of Covid-19.

"Get vaccinated," said Mr Modi in his monthly radio address, urging the public to adhere to social distancing and wear masks. "That is a good safety shield. Think about that."

India must administer 10 million doses a day to achieve its aim of inoculating all adults by December, experts say. But the nation has fully vaccinated less than 6 per cent with two doses.

Interacting with villagers in a virtual meeting, Mr Modi asked community leaders to foster awareness among villagers about vaccination benefits and curb rumours about ill effects.

He said this month that the government would buy 75 per cent of all the vaccines produced in the country and distribute them for free to states, which, along with private hospitals, had been buying shots for people aged 18 to 45.

India's daily Covid-19 infections rose by 50,040, while the death toll rose by 1,258, health ministry data showed.

The country has scaled back its estimate of vaccine supplies to 1.35 billion doses between August and December from an earlier estimate of nearly two billion doses, according to an affidavit filed with the Supreme Court last Saturday.

However, the government told the court that it was committed to its vaccination target and was in talks with global suppliers including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna for additional supplies.

India's official death count is now 395,751, but experts and global health agencies such as the World Health Organisation believe that the toll may be much higher.

State governments eased lockdown restrictions this month after a fall in cases, but scientists fear that the presence of the Delta variant, and the slow pace of vaccination could trigger another wave of infections.

REUTERS