EXPECT VACCINE BY FIRST QUARTER OF ’21: MINISTER
NEW DELHI: India is likely to reach a consensus on emergency authorisation for a vaccine against Covid-19, and fontline health workers and people with comorbidities shall receive the vaccine on a priority basis, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday.
NEW DELHI: India is likely to reach a consensus soon on emergency authorisation for a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), and frontline health care workers, senior citizens and people with comorbidities shall receive the vaccine on a priority basis whenever one is ready, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday.
To calm any fears over the safety of the vaccine, he said he will be happy to take the first dosage.“I shall be the first to offer myself for receiving Covid vaccine, if people have a trust deficit,” he told his social media followers on Twitter.
He also said that while no date has been set for the launch of a potential vaccine, it may be ready by the first quarter of 2021.
“Government is taking full precautions in conducting the human trials of the vaccine and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 under the chairmanship of Dr. V K Paul, member (health), NITI Aayog, is drawing up a detailed strategy on how to immunize a majority of the population. Issues like vaccine security, cost, equity, cold-chain requirements, production timelines etc., are also been discussed intensely,” he said. India is actively partnering with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations for trials, which are in different phases.