India’s Vaccine Stockpile Is All Packed Up – Why People Aren’t Using It
Just when the nation’s got more than 200 million ready‑to‑go Covid shots in each state’s warehouse, folks are still skipping the gym… minus the gym, that is.
CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) Gets Loud About the Hoarding
- Adar Poonawalla, the family‑run SII boss, took to Twitter to warn that “vaccine hesitancy” has become the biggest shadow over the pandemic.
- He added that the company is reviving exports to COVAX, the global vaccine‑sharing initiative, ready to ship doses back onto the world stage for the first time since April.
- “We’ve stocked enough for everyone, but people are still playing hard‑to‑get,” he quipped.
Supply Vs. Demand – The 90‑to‑10 Gap
- Nearly 90 % of India’s 1.24 billion vaccine doses are the SII‑made version of AstraZeneca.
- Even though the shelves are full, only 41 % of India’s 944 million adults are fully vaccinated.
- About 80 % have had at least the first dose, while under‑18s have yet to get their first jab.
- Most adults are ditching their second dose because the numbers of infections are necking, and people think the pandemic is almost over.
The Government’s “Push‑and‑Pull” Campaign
- In the last month, officials launched a door‑to‑door blitz aimed at giving every adult at least one shot (and then nudging them to finish the series) by next month.
- This is the government’s band‑on‑the‑whistle move to turn the tide on hesitancy.
In the Big Picture – Covid in India Today
- India reports 34.5 million positive cases, making it home to the second‑most infections after the U.S.
- There have been over 464,000 deaths.
- Despite all the numbers, the vaccine shelves are a distant memory for many.
So here’s a call to action: Get your shot now. The pharmacy shelves are stuffed, but your health isn’t waiting for your move. And remember—getting vaccinated is a tiny act that helps keep the pandemic from getting a permanent invite to your life.
