PM Modi holds review meeting on coronavirus vaccine development, India’s readiness for rollout

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reviewed the government’s preparedness for coronavirus vaccine delivery, distribution and administration. PM Modi reviewed the preparations of the digital database for Covid-19 vaccine, cold chains, transportation and also vaccine priority groups.

Among the preparations of the government is a digital platform for Covid-19 vaccine delivery and monitoring that has been prepared and tested in consultation with all stakeholders.

Priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination like health workers, frontline workers and other vulnerable groups are being identified by the authorities while PM Modi said these personnel are being reached out to for the vaccination drive.

In a tweet on Friday, PM Modi said, “Held a meeting to review India’s vaccination strategy and the way forward. Important issues related to progress of vaccine development, regulatory approvals and procurement were discussed.”

“Reviewed various issues like prioritisation of population groups, reaching out to HCWs, cold-chain infrastructure augmentation, adding vaccinators and tech platform for vaccine roll-out,” added PM Narendra Modi.

Reviewed various issues like prioritisation of population groups, reaching out to HCWs, cold-chain Infrastructure augmentation, adding vaccinators and tech platform for vaccine roll-out. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 20, 2020

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Member (Health) NITI Aayog, Principal Scientific Advisor, Secretary Health, DG ICMR, officers of PMO, and other officials of the central government.

PM Modi appreciated the efforts of innovators, scientists, academicians and pharma companies developing coronavirus vaccines and said that every effort should be made to facilitate the research, development and manufacturing of the vaccine.

India currently has 5 vaccines in advanced stages of development, out of which 4 are in Phase II/III and one is in Phase-I/II, said a government statement on the review meeting. Countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar, Qatar, Bhutan, Switzerland, Bahrain, Austria and South Korea have shown keen interest in partnering for vaccine development of the Indian vaccines.

In an effort to administer the vaccine, a database of healthcare and frontline workers, augmentation of cold chains and procurement of syringes, needles, etc. are being done, which have reached advanced stages of preparation.

Meanwhile, the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) has accelerated the implementation of vaccination of priority groups in the first phase after consulting with state governments.