New Delhi: As the new Union health minister assumed charge, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said his first task is to ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of vaccines.
He said vaccinations have been suspended at several centres in Tamil Nadu as vaccines have run out of supply.
"Once again, vaccination has been suspended at several centres in Tamil Nadu because they have run out of vaccines.
"The first task of the new Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be to ensure adequate and uninterrupted supply of vaccines to all States," Chidambaram tweeted.
"No more games to enter the Guinness Book of Records please. Just focus on the supply of vaccines to all the States," he also said.
Mansukh Mandaviya took charge as the country's new health minister on Thursday. Mandaviya, a BJP leader from Gujarat's Saurashtra region, replaces Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was dropped from the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.
His portfolio assumes utmost significance as the country is in battling a coronavirus pandemic. Mandaviya will also lead the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
After witnessing a steady decline till Tuesday, COVID-19 infections are witnessing an upward trend. India reported 43,733 new cases on Wednesday, which is 5 per cent less than today.
India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 36.45 crore, the Union Health ministry said on Wednesday.
The new phase of universalisation of Covid vaccination commenced from June 21. More than 31,04,426 vaccine doses have been administered on Wednesday, as per the 7 pm provisional report, the ministry said.
