More Than One COVID-19 Vaccine Expected By Early 2021, Says Indian Government

As the number of COVID-19 infection cases rises in India on a daily basis, efforts to develop a vaccine for the disease are at full swing.

As per Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, these efforts might just be enough to bring the COVID-19 vaccine in India by early next year.

Reuters

The confirmation from the minister was put forward in a meeting of the Group of Ministers on Tuesday. As per news agency ANI, Vardhan further mentioned that these vaccines will possibly come from several sources.

¡°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,¡± the health minister was quoted as saying by ANI.

COVID-19 vaccine outlook

(Representative Image: Reuters)

As for the number of vaccines that will be made available across the country, the health minister clarified that India may have to rely on more than one vaccine manufacturer to ensure widespread access to the vaccine.

During an interaction with his social media followers on 'Sunday Samvad', Vardhan clarified that the Centre estimates to receive and utilise 40-50 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine by July next year. These vaccines will be used for immunising 20-25 crore people in the country.

As of now, the centre is preparing a format for the states to follow and submit by October-end, their list of priority population groups to receive the vaccine. The minister confirmed that priority will be given to health workers battling Covid-19 on the frontlines.

(Representative Image)

¡°Prioritisation of groups to be vaccinated shall be based on key considerations, first is occupational hazard at the risk of exposure to the infection and second is the risk of developing severe disease and increased mortality,¡± Vardhan mentioned.

He further explained that ¡°all Covid-19 vaccines currently in India are in the phases 1, 2 or 3 of trials with results awaited. Adequate safety and efficacy data is required for emergency use authorization vaccine approval for ensuring patient safety. Further course of action will be based on data generated.¡±