NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that India would follow scientific advice in deciding which Covid-19 vaccine to use, stressing that “safety is as important as speed,” even as he said it was a national commitment to provide the vaccinations to all citizens.
When asked during a virtual interaction with chief ministers when the vaccine would be available, Modi said this was the job of the scientific community and regulators and should not comment on it. He noted that the participants in Tuesday’s discussions were political leaders, adding that some people would do politics and this was not something he could stop.
The comments were read in the context of congressional leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand that the prime minister should reveal which vaccine India would use. However, official sources said that the prime minister stressed that such decisions would be made on the basis of expert advice. His interaction with the CMs was cordial and productive, the sources added.
Modi assured that the vaccination strategy and initial launch would be finalized in consultation with them and said it had not been decided which vaccine would be available at what price. “Although two vaccines based in India are at the forefront, we are also working with global companies,” he said, adding that adverse reactions have been seen in available drugs for 20 years and more, so a decision must be made with scientific basis. .
“Safety is as important to us as speed. Whatever vaccine India gives to its citizens will be safe according to all scientific criteria, ”Modi said while reviewing the Covid-19 situation. He met with senior ministers in two batches, with a separate discussion with the CMs of the eight most affected states.
India is considering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, which has nearly completed phase 3 trials in India and has the Pune-based Serum Institute as a major manufacturing partner. The University of Oxford said on Monday that the candidate vaccine prevented 70% of people from contracting the infection in a large trial and that it was ready to start discussions with regulators around the world to start supplies.
There is also a candidate vaccine developed locally by Bharat Biotech and ICMR that has also shown promise during clinical trials and is currently in phase 3 human trials.
The prime minister said the government was closely watching vaccine development and was in contact with Indian and foreign developers and manufacturers, global regulators, foreign governments, multilateral institutions and others.
He said a comprehensive plan for vaccine administration roll-out would be ready soon and called on states to establish steering committees and structures down to the block level to ensure inoculation when the vaccine arrives.
Modi used the interaction to express concern about laxity and complacency, warning that India had spent most of the year and shouldn’t stumble near the finish line. He called on states to ensure there was no truce in Covid’s control measures.
“There is currently no approved vaccine in the world, so we have to focus on the crown in the meantime. It should not happen that having come this far, our ship sinks in shallow water. We have to focus on reducing transmission, vigorously following up on contacts, keeping the positivity rate below 5% and keeping the fatality rate below 1%, continuing with awareness campaigns, ”Modi said.
He added that it was 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 carry out safety awareness campaigns. of the virus.
When asked during a virtual interaction with chief ministers when the vaccine would be available, Modi said this was the job of the scientific community and regulators and should not comment on it. He noted that the participants in Tuesday’s discussions were political leaders, adding that some people would do politics and this was not something he could stop.
The comments were read in the context of congressional leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand that the prime minister should reveal which vaccine India would use. However, official sources said that the prime minister stressed that such decisions would be made on the basis of expert advice. His interaction with the CMs was cordial and productive, the sources added.
Modi assured that the vaccination strategy and initial launch would be finalized in consultation with them and said it had not been decided which vaccine would be available at what price. “Although two vaccines based in India are at the forefront, we are also working with global companies,” he said, adding that adverse reactions have been seen in available drugs for 20 years and more, so a decision must be made with scientific basis. .
“Safety is as important to us as speed. Whatever vaccine India gives to its citizens will be safe according to all scientific criteria, ”Modi said while reviewing the Covid-19 situation. He met with senior ministers in two batches, with a separate discussion with the CMs of the eight most affected states.
India is considering the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine candidate, which has nearly completed phase 3 trials in India and has the Pune-based Serum Institute as a major manufacturing partner. The University of Oxford said on Monday that the candidate vaccine prevented 70% of people from contracting the infection in a large trial and that it was ready to start discussions with regulators around the world to start supplies.
There is also a candidate vaccine developed locally by Bharat Biotech and ICMR that has also shown promise during clinical trials and is currently in phase 3 human trials.
The prime minister said the government was closely watching vaccine development and was in contact with Indian and foreign developers and manufacturers, global regulators, foreign governments, multilateral institutions and others.
He said a comprehensive plan for vaccine administration roll-out would be ready soon and called on states to establish steering committees and structures down to the block level to ensure inoculation when the vaccine arrives.
Modi used the interaction to express concern about laxity and complacency, warning that India had spent most of the year and shouldn’t stumble near the finish line. He called on states to ensure there was no truce in Covid’s control measures.
“There is currently no approved vaccine in the world, so we have to focus on the crown in the meantime. It should not happen that having come this far, our ship sinks in shallow water. We have to focus on reducing transmission, vigorously following up on contacts, keeping the positivity rate below 5% and keeping the fatality rate below 1%, continuing with awareness campaigns, ”Modi said.
He added that it was 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 carry out safety awareness campaigns. of the virus.
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