After two months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a virtual conference with senior ministers from all states and territories in the union to review the status and preparedness of the COVID-19 response and management, with special emphasis on eight states of high focus. These states were Haryana, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and West Bengal.
The delivery, distribution and administration modalities of the Covid-19 vaccine were also discussed during the meeting.
PM Modi, during the review meeting, urged CMs to share their written comments on the COVID-19 strategy, saying that no one can impose any point of view and that everyone must work together.
Regarding the development and distribution plans for the coronavirus vaccine, Modi said that “the vaccine distribution strategy will be defined in collective coordination with the states. The states must also start working on cold storage facilities.” .
“It has not yet been decided which vaccine will cost how much. Although two Indian-based vaccines are at the forefront, we are also working with global companies. Even after the drugs have been available for years, some people have adverse reactions. So Therefore, a decision needs to be made on a scientific basis, “noted PM Modi.
However, he assured that the government is closely monitoring vaccine development and is in contact with Indian developers and manufacturers, along with global regulators, governments of other countries, multilateral institutions and international companies. He added that safety is as important to us as speed, any vaccine that India gives to its citizens will be safe by all scientific standards.
He added that it will be guaranteed that the vaccine for citizens meets all the necessary scientific criteria. He stressed that just as the focus in the fight against COVID has been to save each and every one of the lives, the priority will be to ensure that the vaccine reaches everyone. Governments at all levels will need to work together to ensure that the vaccination campaign is smooth, systematic and sustained.
Modi also called on senior ministers to ensure regular follow-up of the State-level Steering Committee and the State and District-level Task Force to ensure better results.
The prime minister cautioned that past experience tells us that various myths and rumors are spreading around vaccines. Rumors may spread about the side effects of the vaccine. He stressed that such attempts must be addressed by spreading greater awareness, taking all possible help, including civil society, NCC & NSS students, and the media.
Modi also added: “It is not certain whether there will be one, two or three doses of a vaccine. Nor is it decided what the price of the vaccine will be. We do not yet have answers to these questions.
On the pandemic situation, Modi also said that the country needed to reduce the positivity rate to 5% and the death rate to below 1%. Modi noted that it is important to increase RT-PCR testing, ensure better follow-up of patients, especially those in home isolation, better equip health centers at the village and community level, and continue to conduct awareness campaigns on the disease. virus safety.
Modi also spoke about the expansion of the testing and treatment network, noting that the special emphasis of the PM CARES fund has been to make oxygen available. He said that efforts are being made to make medical colleges and district hospitals self-sufficient in terms of oxygen generation, and reported that the process to establish more than 160 new oxygen plants is underway.
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