Covid-19 vaccine may be ready by first quarter of 2021: India health minister
Says he will be the first to take shots to remove ‘trust deficit’
Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said Covid-19 vaccine may be ready in the country by the first quarter of 2021 and that he would be the first to offer himself for receiving the vaccine "if people have a trust deficit".
"While no date has been fixed for the vaccine launch, it may be ready by the first quarter of 2021," he said while answering questions by his social media followers on the "Sunday Samvad" platform.
"I shall be the first to offer myself for receiving Covid-19 vaccine, if people have a trust deficit," the Health Minister said in reply to a question.
He said the government was 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 V K Paul, member (Health), Niti Aayog, Indian government's official think-tank.
The thinktank is drawing up a detailed strategy on how to immunise majority of the population, he said adding "issues like vaccine security, cost, equity, cold-chain requirements and production timelines are also been discussed intensely," the health minister said.
Vardhan assured the vaccine will be first made available to those who need it the most, irrespective of their paying capacity.
He said frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities will be given priority for receiving the vaccine.
Vardhan said the government was considering emergency authorisation of Covid-19 vaccination especially in case of senior citizens and people working at high-risk settings. "This shall be done after a consensus has been reached," he added.
Elaborating on the vaccine candidates and their development in India, he said the Department of Bio Technology (DBT) as well as Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been pro-active in responding to the emerging situation to support advancement of vaccine candidates.
"India is actively partnering with Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and trials at different phases are ongoing with respect to several vaccines in Indian laboratories (private or public) and hospitals," he added.