20-25 crore be vaccinated by July 2021: GoM mulls strategy for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said that India will have a vaccine for Coronavirus, from more than one source by early next year. He said this during a meeting with Group of Ministers.

“We’re expecting that early next year we should have vaccine in the country from maybe more than one source. Our expert groups are formulating strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccine in the country,” ANI tweeted quoting Dr Harsh Vardhan.

We’re expecting that early next year we should have vaccine in the country from maybe more than one source. Our expert groups are formulating strategies to plan on how to roll out the distribution of the vaccine in the country: Union Health Min during Group of Ministers meeting pic.twitter.com/M2G0QzNFxG

— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2020

Group of ministers (GoM) met today to discuss the current status kof SARS-CoV2 virus spread and strategies that will be adopted for availability and distribution of vaccines in coming days.

In last GoM meet, it was said that hopefully by July 2021, 400 to 500 million doses of the vaccine will be made available for 20-25 crore people in the country.

“Keeping a close pace with the potential availability of vaccine a plan of action on which sections are to be given priority has been discussed. Importantly, it would be monitored through a scientific approach. For this, strategies that have been adopted by the world be it CDC, US are being studied continuously. Digital platforms are also being prepared for the same,” Dr Harsh Vardhan told media.

The #GoM was attended by my cabinet colleagues, Minister of External Affairs, Sh @DrSJaishankar Ji, Minister of Civil Aviation, Sh @HardeepSPuri Ji.
MoS (I/C), Shipping, Sh @mansukhmandviya Ji & MoS, @MoHFW_INDIA, Sh @AshwiniKChoubey Ji joined via VC.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/U1J2zUq0pm

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) October 13, 2020

“Approximately 200 vaccine candidates are being tried out globally. Around 151 candidates are at the pre-clinical trial phase and around 42 are at the clinical trial phase. Globally there are nine vaccine candidates who are at clinical trial phase II & III (slightly advance stages) among which three are from India,” said the Health Minister.

CEO, @NITIAayog, Sh @amitabhk87 Ji & Member, #nitiaayog, Dr VK Paul Ji, @Director_NCDC, Dr SK Singh Ji, Secy, @MoHFW_INDIA Sh Rajesh Bhushan Ji joined the meeting. Officials from @TexMinIndia @DIPPGOI @tourismgoi @MoCA_GoI @Pharmadept @dgftindia @MoHFW_INDIA were also present. pic.twitter.com/YrQfMOgg6X

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) October 13, 2020

Vardhan also advised people about taking precautions during the upcoming festive season, “As winter and festive seasons are approaching the entire country should strictly follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour such as wearing mask, observing social distancing and maintaining respiratory hygiene”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had formed the GoM for keeping the rising COVID-19 pandemic threat in mind in February this year.