Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an all-party meeting on Friday that in the coming weeks, Indian manufacturers could produce the long-awaited Covid-19 vaccines. He also gave enough hints that India will use indigenously made vaccines while talking about cheap but effective vaccines. Both Moderna and Pfizer candidates are priced much higher than potential immunization candidates from India.
Speaking of Indian vaccine preparations, the Prime Minister said: “Experts believe that we do not have to wait long to receive a vaccine. It is understood that the Covid vaccines will be ready in the coming weeks. The government is waiting for the go-ahead from the scientists. ”
While the high-priced Pfizer vaccine has already obtained emergency clearance from the UK and vaccination will begin next week, Prime Minister Modi said his government is likely to wait for a vaccine made in India to be produced. “The world is looking for a cheap but effective vaccine against Covid-19. The world is looking at India. You can be sure that our scientists are hard at work. Eight Covid vaccines are in different stages of preparation in India. This includes the three Indian vaccines that are in different stages of trials. ”
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The prime minister also added that teams from the central and state governments are working together for the distribution of vaccines.
The PM, for the first time, also established the principles of vaccine administration. “The first priority would be given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and older people with comorbidities.”
He also told parliamentary leaders of different parties that India has the best experience and capacity in vaccine distribution, indicating the existing vaccine network of universal immunization. “We have a wide network with experience in vaccination. We will use it in full. ”
The extensive network of India’s long-standing universal immunization program will provide crucial logistical support for the government to administer Covid vaccines next year, HT reported Monday.
Officials involved in planning told HT that they hope the existing infrastructure and human resources will be sufficient to vaccinate the first 30 million Indians or priority groups 1 and 2. But India may need to substantially strengthen its capacities if it needs to vaccinate. . to the priority group of the elderly population.
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“Of the 239,000 strong vaccinators in the existing immunization program, at least 150,000 workers would be used to deliver Covid vaccines to the first two priority groups tentatively from January to March 2021,” said a senior government official.
“Similarly,” added the official, “the 29,000 existing cold chains would be enough to store and distribute 60 million vaccines required for the two priority groups during this period.”
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