New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday refuted allegations of vaccine shortage in the country and said the Centre had told states and UTs well in advance about the number of doses they would be provided. This, he said, was done in order to help states plan their vaccination strategies.

The health minister said "useless statements" about vaccine shortage are now being made to create panic among the people.

In a series of tweets, MansukhMandaviya said states know very well when and in what quantity they will get the Covid-19 vaccine doses. The Centre has informed them about the allocation of doses in advance, he said, adding that the availability of vaccines can be better understood by an "actual analysis of the facts".

"I have come to know the availability of Covid-19 vaccines from statements and letters of various state governments and leaders. This situation can be better understood by an actual analysis of the facts. Useless statements are being made only to create panic among the people," Mandaviya said in a tweet in Hindi.

In another tweet, he said 11.46 crore vaccine doses were made available to states/UTs in June to facilitate vaccination through government and private hospitals. For July, the number of doses has been increased to 13.50 crore."On June 19, the Centre had informed states about how many doses would be made available to them in July. On June 27 and July 13, the states were informed about the availability of vaccines every day for the first and second fortnight of July. So, the states know very well when and in what quantity they will get the vaccine doses," Mandaviya said. He added that the Centre has provided this information to the states in advance so that they can plan their vaccination drives properly and people do not face any problem."If the Centre is already giving this information in advance on its behalf and yet we see mismanagement and long queues of vaccine takers, then it is very clear what the problem is and who is the reason for it," he said.