Centre clears the air on procurement of Covishield vaccine for states

Vaccination for those aged above 18 years could see a slow start in May

State governments will not have to wait till May 25 to procure Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covishield vaccine, the union health ministry indicated on Thursday evening.
 
The ministry issued a statement dismissing claims by Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope that it has contracted SII's entire Covishield production till May 24.
 
"There have been some media reports suggesting that Serum Institute of India (SII) has contracted all its production till 25th May 2021 to the Centre, and therefore till that date the state governments will not be able to procure vaccine from SII. These media reports are based