Niti Aayog: 'Panel may recommend using CSR funds for Coronavirus vaccination'

Niti Aayog Member, VK Paul, on Monday said that a high-level committee on COVID-19 is likely to recommend allowing corporates to use CSR funds for vaccinating employees and local communities to control spre of COVID-19. During an interview with news ncy PTI, VK Paul said that as India moves to immunise individuals above 50 years of , government will soon decide on funding vaccination program well in time. 

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Niti Aayog: 'Corporate may use CSR funds for vaccination'

Asserting that decision of allowing use of fo CSR funds for COVID-19 vaccination is still under consideration, Pail, who is also chairman of National Expert Group On Vaccine ministration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) said, "How to use CSR funds for vaccinating and COVID-19 control has been discussed, and we will come up with specific recommendations in due course."

This comes after a CII  (Confederation of Indian Industry) Taskforce in last month h recommended inclusion of certain elements in vaccination programme as part of 2 per cent corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure required to be undertaken by a class of profitable entities, saying it will encour private sector to iculate its workforce and help enhance reach of vaccines.

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India reaches 6 million Covid vaccination mark

While comparing statistics of vaccination against COVID-19 across world, Union Health Ministry on Monday said that India is fastest country in world to vaccinate 6 million people in 24 days.

"In last 24 days, India is fastest country to reach 6 million vaccinations in world. USA took 26 days to reach while UK took 46 days to reach 6 million vaccinations," ditional Secretary of Union Health Ministry Mahar Agnani said in press conference.

"As of February 8, 2021, at 6 pm, total vaccination is 60,35,660, out of which healthcare workers who have been vaccinated are 54,12,270. So far, 6,23,390 frontline workers have been vaccinated since February 2. Today vaccination sessions were organised in 35 states and Union Territories and 2,23,298 people have been vaccinated till 6 pm," he said while giving out statistics of vaccination drives across country.

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"Total of 29 persons have been hospitalised so far. This comprises 0.0005 per cent of total vaccinations. Of 29 cases of hospitalization, 19 were discharged after treatment, while nine persons died. In last 24 hours, one person who is suffering from B/L Facial Palsy has been hospitalized at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and is stable," re release by Union Health Ministry.

India is third country, after US and UK, to vaccinate highest number of people against COVID-19 infection. UK and US, both kick-started ir ambitious iculation drives in December, have vaccinated 10 million and 27 million people respectively. Meanwhile, India, which began its programme on January 16, has crossed 6 million jabs. 

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