Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a Covid-19 vaccine was expected to be available in the next few weeks. The inoculation drive, he said, would begin as soon as scientists granted the necessary approvals.
“Experts believe we will not have to wait long now to get a Covid vaccine. It will be ready in the next few weeks. As soon as we get a green signal from the scientists, the vaccination drive will start. The Centre is working with states to determine priority groups for vaccination,” the PM said. Around 1 crore health workers, 2 crore frontline workers and 26 crore people above 50 years with co-morbidities are likely to get priority in vaccination.
Modi said the Centre and state teams were working in close coordination on vaccine strategy. “India has vaccine distribution expertise and capacity. We are far better than several other countries in this regard. We have a vast and experienced vaccination network and the country will capitalise on these advantages,” he added
Political parties which participated in the meeting included Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, YSR Congress, JD(U), BJD, Shiv Sena, TRS, BSP, SP, AIADMK, NCP, JD(S) and BJP. The leaders assured the PM of their full support to ensure efficient and speedy vaccination.
Official account of BJP & Press trust of India tweeted-
Vaccines for #COVID are likely to be ready within few weeks.
Three indigenous vaccines are already in the final stages of trial.
Indian health agencies & manufacturers are working in tandem with global agencies. We are fully prepared for the roll out.
– PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/yLo7xSsyOM
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 4, 2020
Indian scientists are very sure of success in developing COVID-19 vaccine, their confidence very high: PM Modi at all party meeting
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2020
“We not only helped our fellow Indians but also made every effort to save citizens of other countries as well. Also, the scientific methodology adopted by India led to increased testing in India, which not only reduced the positivity rate but also reduced the Covid mortality rate,” the PM said.
Modi once again cautioned against rumours that may be spread about vaccination, saying it would be against both public interest and national interest
Pricing would be a key issue of discussion with states, the PM said noting that national goods would be the top goal during price fixation.
On distribution networks, the PM assured the nation of ample national capacity for scale-up saying India’s immunisation network was unparalleled in the world and assessment of additional need of cold chains and logistics was underway. He guaranteed transparency in vaccination rollout saying the government had developed a digital platform, Covid-19 Vaccine Information Network (Co-WIN), to provide real-time information on beneficiaries, stockpiles and distribution.
PM Modi has held four important meetings on Vaccine Delivery and Distribution related preparedness in the last two weeks.
