Coronavirus | Vaccination rate key to lifting lockdowns: ICMR chief

Immunisation of over 70% of vulnerable population a must

Unlocking of the country has to be done patiently and guided by the number of vaccinations done for the vulnerable population, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Balram Bhargava said at the Health Ministry press conference on Tuesday. He added that currently India has just managed to suppress the second wave but it can resurface at any time. “To open-up, areas have to clock a less than 5% positivity rate for a week and also over 70% of the vulnerable population should be vaccinated. There is no shortage of vaccination in India and we are among the select few countries in the world which are manufacturing vaccines. India will quicken its vaccination rate in June and by July-August we will be in a position to offer one crore doses in a day. The aim is to have the population vaccinated by December,” Dr. Bhargava said. He added that for the unlocking process, community ownership is vital.