The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday said that India, with 7,178 COVID-19 cases per million population, continues to be amongst the lowest in the world when it comes to number of cases per million population, reported ANI. The global average is currently at 9,000 cases per million.

Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “The number of cases per million population in India continues to be amongst the lowest in the world. The number of cases in India is 7,178 per million population, the global average is 9,000.”

Bhushan, while talking about the vaccination programme, said that several equipment have already reached state governments, including 29,000 cold chain points, 240 walk-in coolers, 70 walk-in freezers, 45,000 ice-lined refrigerators, 41,000 deep freezers and 300 solar refrigerators.

Also read: UV-emitting LED lights can kill novel coronavirus, say scientists

Talking about large scale immunisation, the health secretary said, “Adverse events following immunisation is a critical issue. When we undertake a universal immunisation programme, which has been done for decades, then some adverse effects are seen in children and pregnant women after vaccination.”

Bhushan gave the example of UK regarding the adverse affects of immunisation and emphasised on the need to take mandatory precautions. 

He said, “So, we can’t deny chances of an adverse event when COVID-19 vaccination begins. The countries where immunisation has already begun, especially in the UK, adverse events took place on the very first day. So, it is essential that states and UTs prepare for this too.”