Earlier in September, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said that there are expectations a vaccine for coronavirus will be available in the country by the beginning of next year.
A senior government scientist told news agency Reuters that an Indian government-backed COVID-19 vaccine could be launched as early as February – months earlier than expected – as last-stage trials begin this month and studies have so far shown it is safe and effective.
Bharat Biotech is developing COVAXIN with the government-run Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The private company had earlier hoped to launch it only in the second quarter of next year.
On Thursday, speaking at ICMR’s New Delhi headquarters, senior scientist Rajni Kant said: “The vaccine has shown good efficacy.” Mr Kant is also a member of its COVID-19 task-force
“It is expected that by the beginning of next year, February or March, something would be available.”
Earlier in September, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had said that there are expectations a vaccine for coronavirus will be available in the country by the beginning of next year.
“India is making efforts just like other countries,” the health minister had told Rajya Sabha adding that PM Modi was handling the Covid-19 “meticulously.”
“Under PM Modi’s guidance, an expert group is looking at it and we have advanced planning in place. We are hopeful that by the beginning of the next year, a vaccine will be available in India,” Mr Harsh Vardhan had said in his address in the upper house regarding the Covid-19 situation in the country.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
