Modi meets Covid vaccine manufacturers

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met top officials of seven vaccine manufacturers. The in-person meeting came two days after India crossed the 100-crore Covid vaccine dose milestone.

Officials from the seven vaccine manufacturing companies Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Zydus Cadila, Biological E, Gennova Biopharma and Panacea Biotech participated in the meeting.

Modi was to highlight the need to vaccinate all adults in India at the earliest and seek suggestions on ways to do it. He was also to emphasise the need to help other countries in their vaccination programmes as part of the motto of "vaccine for all", an official had earlier said.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State (Health) Bharati Pravin Pawar were also present.

The total Covid-19 vaccination figure stood at 101.3 crores as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website. India on October 21 achieved the milestone of administering 100 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses.

So, far 71.24 crore first doses, covering 76% of the eligible population, and 30.06 crore second doses, covering 32% of the eligible population, has been administered Covid vaccines.