COVID-19 Vaccine in India: Health Minister Makes 'Big Announcement' on Availability of Vaccine! Details

As the country awaits for the COVID-19 vaccine availability, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan claimed that India shall have a vaccine ready by March 2021. Giving further confidence on trust issues, he offered to take the first shot himself if people have any 'trust deficit'. 

“It may be ready by the first quarter of next year,” the minister said as he addressed the first episode of his Sunday Samvaad — a social media interaction programme.

Union health minister's comments come a day after top pharma giant Astrazeneca announced the resumption of its COVID-19 vaccine trial after it got a go-ahead from British regulators. 
“Issues like vaccine security, cost, equity, cold-chain requirements, production timelines, etc., are also being discussed intensely,” he added. The vaccine, once ready, will be made available to those who need it the most. 

During the interaction, the minister discussed on several issues posed by social media users like; 

- On which trial is most promising: “Several vaccine trials are going on in India. At present, we can’t predict which one will emerge as the most effective. But by the first quarter of 2021, we will definitely know the results,” the minister said.

- On availability: A vaccine expert group has been set up, which is overseeing the entire process. While the trial results get assessed, the manufacturers will be advised to begin mass-production so that no time is wasted, the minister said.

- On first dose: “Work has already started on prioritising vulnerable groups who will be administered the vaccine first. But if I need to take the vaccine to test the efficacy of it, I will happily take the first dose,” the minister said.

- On Covid-19 vaccine price: “It is premature to comment on the price of the vaccine which is still under trial. But the vaccine will be made available to those who need it the most, irrespective of their paying capacity,” Harsh Vardhan said.

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