Centre speeding up COVID vaccine production, exports: Nirmala Sitharaman

Vishakhapatanam: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced that centre is working towards administering Covid-19 vaccines to as many people as possible before September end by procuring dosages from other countries, besides increasing production within the Indian manufacturing units.

She underlined this point while addressing a gathering after visiting a vaccination centre at Chinna Waltair in the port city.

The union minister asserted that nearly 50 crore people have so far received Covid-19 vaccination across the country. Steps are being taken to administer balance doses on a war footing.

The vaccination drive began in January this year, initially covering elderly people aged above 65 years; followed by Covid-19 warriors like medical staff and police, among others.

Visakhapatnam collector A. Mallikarjuna explained Coronavirus vaccination process in the district and measures taken by administration in vaccinating all eligible people.

State finance minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy accompanied the union minister, who had earlier visited K. G. Peda in Visakhapatnam district, where she paid floral tributes to freedom fighters Alluri Sitharamaraju and Gantam Dora at their graveyards.

Sitharaman also chaired a BJP meeting organised by party state president Somu Veerraju and MLC Madhav. The meeting dwelt on course of action to strengthen the party at ground level.