Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the coronavirus vaccine facilities in Ahme-dabad, Hyderabad and Pune to review the development and manufacturing process on Monday. The visit was purely functional and devoid of any ceremony.
Modi first visited the Zydus Biotech park in Ahmedabad, then the Bharat Biotech plant in the city and ended his tour with a visit to the facilities of the Serum Institute of India in Pune.
Scientists, researchers, and facilitators from Bharat Biotech said they were honored by the Prime Minister’s visit.
The prime minister personally reviewed the vaccine development and manufacturing process.
The company informed him about human trials for which 26,000 volunteers have enrolled in hospitals across the country.
The vaccine is being produced in the Biosafety Level 3 certified production unit.
Later, Modi posted on his Twitter account that Bharat Biotech officials had informed him about his vaccine.
He congratulated the scientists on their progress in the trials so far.
At all three plants, the prime minister, who was wearing personal protective equipment during the review, received detailed information about the work of the vaccines from company officials and scientists.
Modi landed at the Hakimpet Air Force Station around 1 pm and headed to the Bharat Biotech facility by road.
He reviewed the progress of Covaxin, a vaccine candidate the company is developing. He also interacted with the president and managing director of Bharat Biotech, Krishna Ella, scientists and senior managers.
“At the Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad, they were informed about their indigenous Covid-19 vaccine. He congratulated the scientists on their progress in the trials so far. His team is working closely with ICMR to facilitate rapid progress, ”Modi posted on Twitter.
As he left the facility, Modi got out of his vehicle at the front door and greeted the media and the crowd nearby.
His last visit of the day was to the Serum Institute of India in Manjari, 17 km from the airport. He reviewed the progress of the ‘Covishield’ vaccine being made there. Modi interacted with scientists from the Serum Institute and toured the facility, taking stock of the vaccine development work that was taking place there. Modi was greeted by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, President of the Poonwalla Group, and his son and SII CEO, Adar Poonawalla.
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