The minister said that three candidate vaccines have reached different stages of testing: Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3. However, he warned that even if the vaccine is developed, it will take time before it can be made available in large quantities. therefore winning the battle against Covid-19 will require people to strictly maintain hand hygiene, follow respiratory etiquette by wearing masks, and adhere to social distancing rules.
Rejecting the opinion of some members of the opposition who pointed out that the shutdown had not been helpful, Vardhan said that analysis by experts had shown that many more cases and deaths would have occurred without the measure. Noting that the lockdown was used to improve preparedness, he said that from a testing lab at the beginning to 1,700 labs today, the country has come a long way and is fully equipped to fight the virus with people who have access to test facilities. at short distances.
In order to recall that India has vigorously fought the virus, he reminded the House that when the pandemic began to escalate, various international experts had predicted that cases in India could rise to 300 million in July-August. , and there could be around 5-6 million deaths.
Harsh Vardhan said that the country’s recovery rate of 78% to 79% is one of the highest in the world. “We have about 50 lakh cases, but of these only 10 lakh are active cases in the country at the moment,” he said.
On developing a vaccine, he said the ministry of science and technology, the ICMR and pharmaceutical companies have come together to find a solution. “Vaccines may come in the future. Thorough planning is underway to execute how to manage the scenario, ”said Vardhan.
“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, a group of experts is studying this. We hope that early next year we can have a vaccine in the country. In this sense, we are also coordinating with WHO and world organizations, ”he said.
Demanding more funding for states to fight the pandemic, opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said India should work to get the vaccine at an “affordable price” at an early date through a mechanism such as joint procurement. He also said that the government should be “cautious” about the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine, as possible long-term side effects could negatively affect the country’s youth.
Azad listed several suggestions, ranging from ensuring an adequate mechanism for last-mile delivery of the new vaccine and halving the price of disinfectants and soaps to establishing more Level 4 and 3 biosafety laboratories in the country.
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