3 Covid-19 vaccines being trialled in India, plan for distribution ready: Modi
Three coronavirus vaccines are at different stages of trials and a roadmap is ready for production and distribution across India in the shortest possible time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.
Addressing the nation to mark the 74th Independence Day today, he also announced a National Digital Health Mission that would see every Indian citizen getting a health ID card.
"Three vaccines are in different stages of testing. When scientists give the go-ahead, we are ready with a plan for production. We have a roadmap ready as to how the vaccine will reach every Indian in the least amount of time," Modi said.
His remarks came on a day when the total number of Covid-19 cases across India rose to 25.26 lakh today with the addition of 65,002 new patients in the last 24 hours, according to health ministry's updated data.
India's Covid-19 death toll went up to 49,036 with 996 fresh fatalities in the previous 24 hours till this morning, said the data.
The number of active cases stood at 6,68,220, while 18,08,936 people have recovered from the virus so far, said the Health ministry figures.
Modi said coronavirus may be a big challenge but not so big as to stop India's march towards self-reliance.
Referring to the national digital health mission, he said "every Indian will get a Health ID card. Every time you visit a doctor or a pharmacy, everything will be logged in this health card in your profile on a national scale. From the doctor's appointment to the medication advised, everything will be available in your health profile."
In his nearly 90-minute speech, Modi dwelt on the issues of self-reliant India, "vocal-for-local" and "Make-in-India" and paid tribute to those on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus.
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