New Delhi, November 20:
PM Narendra Modi on Friday said that he has held a review meeting regarding India’s vaccination strategy with several senior officials including foreign secretary Harshvardhan Shringla, NITI Aayog’s VK Paul, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba and principal secretary to the PM Dr PK Misra. Several officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), ministry of health and welfare and the department of science and technology were also present at the meeting.
PM Modi said, “Held a meeting to review India’s vaccination strategy and the way forward. Important issues related to progress of vaccine development, regulatory approvals and procurement were discussed.”
He further added, “Reviewed various issues like prioritisation of population groups, reaching out to HCWs, cold-chain Infrastructure augmentation, adding vaccinators and tech platform for vaccine roll-out.”
The Centre is in talks with several drugmakers in order to procure vaccines for the public. Government officials have said that they have contacted Pfizer as well as Moderna’s upon receiving news that their vaccines are 90% and 94.5% effective.
At several events like the United Nations General Assembly and the Invest India Conference in Canada PM Modi highlighted that India has taken all steps to ensure speedy delivery of vaccines and has taken requisite steps to build cold-storage capacities for the vaccines.
Earlier on Thursday union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that he was hopeful that the Covid-19 vaccine will roll out in the next three to four months. Addressing the FICCI FLO webinar he had said, “I am confident that Covid-19 vaccine will be ready in the next three-four months. Priority for the vaccine will be designed on the basis of scientific data. Health care workers and corona warriors will naturally be prioritised followed by elderly and disease-prone people.”
Serum Institute of India chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla during the 18th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit said that the nation can expect ‘a suitable and effective vaccine for the contagious viral disease by the end of the year or early next year.’ He also said that Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine will be priced between Rs 500 – Rs 600 when released.
( Courtesy Hindustan Times)
