Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday healthcare and frontline workers and the elderly suffering from serious diseases will be inoculated on priority when the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is available. The Prime minister said, during, an all-party meet to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the country, said the Centre was in talks with state governments over the price of the vaccine and the decision regarding it would be taken keeping public health as the topmost priority.
“Experts believe that a Covid vaccine will be ready in the next few weeks. As soon as scientists give a green signal, vaccination will start in India. Healthcare and frontline workers and the elderly suffering from serious diseases will be given priority in vaccination,” PM Modi said during the meeting. “Teams of central and state governments are working together for vaccine distribution. India has the expertise and capacity in vaccine distribution and fares better compared to other nations. We have a very big and experienced network in the field of vaccination. We will fully exploit it,” PM Modi said.
He also the world was keeping a close watch on the cheapest and safest vaccine against the coronavirus disease and is looking at India. “Our scientists are very confident of succeeding in their endeavour of making Covid vaccine. The world is keeping a watch on the cheapest and safe vaccine. That is why the world is watching India,” Modi said.
He further urged all leaders to send their suggestions in writing and assured that they would be considered seriously. This was the second all-party meet called by the Prime Minister to discuss the Covid-19 situation since the outbreak.
Modi had visited Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune last week to review the vaccine development work at Zydus Biotech Park, Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India (SII) respectively.
India’s Covid-19 tally on Friday went over 9.5 million after 36,595 fresh cases and 540 deaths were added in the last 24 hours. The tally now includes 416,082 active cases, more than 9 million recoveries and 139,188 deaths, according to the Union health ministry’s dashboard.