Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a&nbsp;World&nbsp;Health&nbsp;Organization&nbsp;(WHO) senior adviser&nbsp;said on Friday.

Warning of a "two-track recovery," the WHO is urging wealthy countries to donate their surplus doses to poorer countries instead of giving them to less vulnerable groups, such as children. They have so far donated 150 million doses via the COVAX sharing scheme.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reconsider-vaccinating-children-donate-to-covax-says-who-chief-as-he-warns-against-deadliest-year-385082">'Reconsider vaccinating children, donate to Covax,' says WHO chief as he warns against 'deadliest year'</a>

However, Bruce Aylward said on Friday that only a small portion of those doses will be available in the short-term in June, July and August when they can make a difference in slowing the pace of infections in the global pandemic.

"We are going to need twice that much and it's got to be brought forward," he said, referring to the size of wealthy country donations so far as G7&nbsp;health&nbsp;ministers meet in Oxford.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-chief-urges-covid-19-vaccine-makers-to-advance-doses-for-covax-385692">WHO chief urges COVID-19 vaccine makers to advance doses for COVAX</a>

"We don't have enough confirmed doses from enough countries early enough to get the&nbsp;world&nbsp;on track to get out of this," he said. "We are setting up for failure if we don't get early doses."

He praised a US&nbsp;plan announced on Thursday (June 3) to quickly share 25 million doses and encouraged other wealthy countries to follow suit.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-distribute-80-million-vaccine-doses-through-covax-india-included-in-list-white-house-389263">US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House</a>

Aylward estimated that Indian vaccine export disruptions and delays in getting other vaccines online meant that the COVAX sharing scheme had a gap of around 200 million doses.

India's Serum Institute has diverted AstraZeneca supplies to the domestic market amid a devastating second wave in India and is expected to lift those restrictions in the fourth quarter when other products earmarked for COVAX are also due online.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tedros-denounces-vaccine-inequity-as-covax-sharing-scheme-marks-first-year-379526">Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year</a>

Even after a summit this week that secured an additional $2.4 billion in pledges, a nearly $17 billion funding gap for the WHO's "ACT Accelerator" to back COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics remain, he said.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a World Health Organization (WHO) senior adviser said on Friday.

Wealthy countries need to give more COVID-19 vaccines and follow the United States in making doses available immediately to cover a 200 million dose gap caused by Indian supply disruptions and manufacturing delays, a World Health Organization (WHO) senior adviser said on Friday. Warning of a "two-track recovery," the WHO is urging wealthy countries to donate their surplus doses to poorer countries instead of giving them to less vulnerable groups, such as children. They have so far donated 150 million doses via the COVAX sharing scheme. Also Read | 'Reconsider vaccinating children, donate to Covax,' says WHO chief as he warns against 'deadliest year' However, Bruce Aylward said on Friday that only a small portion of those doses will be available in the short-term in June, July and August when they can make a difference in slowing the pace of infections in the global pandemic. "We are going to need twice that much and it's got to be brought forward," he said, referring to the size of wealthy country donations so far as G7 health ministers meet in Oxford. Also Read | WHO chief urges COVID-19 vaccine makers to advance doses for COVAX "We don't have enough confirmed doses from enough countries early enough to get the world on track to get out of this," he said. "We are setting up for failure if we don't get early doses." He praised a US plan announced on Thursday (June 3) to quickly share 25 million doses and encouraged other wealthy countries to follow suit. Also Read | US to distribute 80 million vaccine doses through Covax; India included in list: White House Aylward estimated that Indian vaccine export disruptions and delays in getting other vaccines online meant that the COVAX sharing scheme had a gap of around 200 million doses. India's Serum Institute has diverted AstraZeneca supplies to the domestic market amid a devastating second wave in India and is expected to lift those restrictions in the fourth quarter when other products earmarked for COVAX are also due online. Also Read | Tedros denounces vaccine inequity as COVAX sharing scheme marks first year Even after a summit this week that secured an additional $2.4 billion in pledges, a nearly $17 billion funding gap for the WHO's "ACT Accelerator" to back COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics remain, he said.

WHO warns of 'failure' unless rich countries speed up vaccine sharing

The Central government on Thursday said that vaccination against coronavirus will be offered on all days in the month of April at both public and private sector vaccination centres.

The Centre has written to all States and Union Territories today and asked them to make necessary arrangements to provide COVID vaccination in these covid vaccination centres on all days of the month including gazetted holidays during April 2021, the ministry said.

"This step has been taken after detailed deliberations with the States/UTs on 31st March, 2021 to optimally utilize all COVID Vaccination Centres across the public and private sectors to ensure rapid increase in the pace and coverage of COVID vaccination. This decision is in line with the graded and pro-active approach employed by the Government of India along with the States/UTs for COVID-19 vaccination," it said.

The decision comes on a day when the third phase of vaccination began in India on Thursday, with all those above 45 years of age eligible to get the jabs.

&nbsp;On Thursday, India recorded a massive surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, reporting 72,330 cases in the last 24 hours.

With the latest addition, the country's tally has soared to 12,221,665, according to the government. The active cases have hit 584,055, and India is now the fifth-worst hit country. The death toll from the deadly infection jumped to 162,960.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Central government on Thursday said that vaccination against coronavirus will be offered on all days in the month of April at both public and private sector vaccination centres.

The Central government on Thursday said that vaccination against coronavirus will be offered on all days in the month of April at both public and private sector vaccination centres. The Centre has written to all States and Union Territories today and asked them to make necessary arrangements to provide COVID vaccination in these covid vaccination centres on all days of the month including gazetted holidays during April 2021, the ministry said. "This step has been taken after detailed deliberations with the States/UTs on 31st March, 2021 to optimally utilize all COVID Vaccination Centres across the public and private sectors to ensure rapid increase in the pace and coverage of COVID vaccination. This decision is in line with the graded and pro-active approach employed by the Government of India along with the States/UTs for COVID-19 vaccination," it said. The decision comes on a day when the third phase of vaccination began in India on Thursday, with all those above 45 years of age eligible to get the jabs. On Thursday, India recorded a massive surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, reporting 72,330 cases in the last 24 hours. With the latest addition, the country's tally has soared to 12,221,665, according to the government. The active cases have hit 584,055, and India is now the fifth-worst hit country. The death toll from the deadly infection jumped to 162,960. (With inputs from agencies)

At all public and private sector centres: Covid vaccination throughout April, including gazetted holidays

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance & World Health Organisation will be holding a virtual meeting and the aim is to brainstorm a plant to boost the COVID-19 vaccine distribution globally.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance & WHO to hold virtual meet