Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today reviewed the vaccine trial in Delhi. (Archive)
New Delhi:
In the first phase, free coronavirus vaccines will be administered to three million people who have been on the front lines in the fight against the highly contagious disease, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said today. The government will give priority to 1 crore of healthcare workers and 2 crore of frontline workers when India begins the rollout of the Covid vaccine.
“In the first phase of # COVID19Vaccination, #vaccine free #vaccine will be provided nationwide to the majority of priority recipients including 1 crore from healthcare and 2 crore from frontline workers. Details of how are being finalized 27 more priority beneficiaries will be vaccinated through July (sic), “Tweeted Dr. Harsh Vardhan this afternoon.
His comments come a day after India took another step toward vaccination against the disease, which has affected more than 1 million people in the country; killed more than 1.49 lakh. A government-appointed panel of experts sent its recommendations for the Oxford vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India in Pune, Covishield, to the Comptroller General of Drugs of India (DCGI) on Friday.
In 1st phase of # COVID19Vaccination free #vaccine will be provided nationwide to most priority beneficiaries including 1 crore from healthcare and 2 crore from frontline workers
Details of how more 27 priority CR beneficiaries will be vaccinated through July are being finalized pic.twitter.com/K7NrzGrgk3– Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 2, 2021
“The DCGI will soon make a decision on the recommendation,” the Health Minister told reporters this morning while reviewing the vaccine test at a Delhi hospital. He also assured about the safety of the vaccine. “There should be no rumors about the vaccine’s safety … Everything has been verified in detail. Initially, when the polio vaccine was released, even then the rumors had floated. But once it hit the ground, all the people they were sure about safety, “he said.
Today, all states are conducting a test so that potential gaps in the system can be revealed before the actual vaccination campaign. Earlier this week, a two-day drill was held in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat.
The government has been preparing for the launch of the vaccine for the past four months, the health minister said today, adding that attention has been paid to the smallest details.
A new strain of mutant virus, first detected in the UK in September, has led to new restrictions in India and around the world. So far 29 cases have been registered. However, the government has said that there is no evidence that current vaccines are not effective against the new strain.
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