PM Modi to visit 3 cities on Saturday, to personally review vaccine development

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will embark on a three-city visit to personally review the vaccine development and manufacturing process, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Friday.

“Tomorrow, PM Narendra Modi will embark on a three-city visit to personally review the vaccine development and manufacturing process. He will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune,” PMO tweeted.

“As India enters a decisive phase of the fight against COVID-19, PM Narendra Modi’s visit to these facilities and discussions with the scientists will help him get a first-hand perspective of the preparations, challenges and roadmap in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens,” PMO added.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway at Serum Institute of India (SII) where PM Modi will be visiting to review the COVID-19 vaccine production and its distribution mechanisms.

The SII has partnered with a UK-based company AstraZeneca and Oxford University for the production of a vaccine against COVID-19. The SII is the largest producer of vaccines in the world by volume.

The trial movement of the road routes and the landing of Air Force chopper were conducted today. The police security was also beefed up ahead of PM Modi’s visit.

On the other hand, Bharat Biotech has partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for a country-made COVID-19 vaccine using the virus strain isolated by ICMR’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) based in Pune.

On November 24, Prime Minister while speaking with chief ministers of various states over the deteriorating pandemic situation in their states at a virtual meeting advised the states to establish cold storage facilities for COVID-19 vaccine beforehand and suggested them to prepare and send a plan for its distribution to the Central government.