Coronavirus India Update: Nearly 17,000 New Cases; Serum Institute Warns Of Delays

Key Figures:

• Total number of confirmed coronavirus cases: 1,11,73,761
• Active cases: 1,76,319
• Cured/discharged/migrated: 1,08,39,894
• Deaths: 1,57,548
• Fresh cases in the last 24 hours: 16,838
• One-day recoveries: 13,819
• One-day deaths: 113

India has administered 1,80,05,503 vaccine shots, with nearly 14 lakh of them given to the elderly in the last 24 hours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the second phase of immunisations on Monday — where senior citizens and those above the age of 45 with comorbidities will be able to get inoculated — by taking the first dose of Covaxin.

The indigenous vaccine, which was co-developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Ltd. and the Indian Council of Medical Research, showed an efficacy rate of 81% in those without prior infection after a second dose, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India Ltd., told a World Bank panel on Thursday that a U.S. law blocking the export of certain key items, including bags and filters, will likely cause serious bottlenecks. “We’re talking about having free global access to vaccines but if we can’t get the raw materials out of the U.S. — that’s going to be a serious limiting factor,” he said.