The Health Ministry on Tuesday declared that the government is set to launch a massive production of COVID-19 vaccine once the scientists and researchers in the country give a green flag. During a press briefing, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Health Ministry said, “We’ve has made all the preparations and drawn an outline to ramp up production of vaccine and to make it available to each and every person in shortest possible time.”
The ministry also added that Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have requested for permission to Emergency Use Approval in the past few days. The health ministry secretary also made public that some of the vaccine candidates may get licensed in the next few weeks. “Six vaccine candidates are currently in clinical trial stage in India,” Bhushan added.
Bhushan also clarified that India’s regulatory framework has included a specific provision for grant of emergency use authorisation of COVID-19 vaccines. Speaking about the vaccine distribution, the ministry also highlighted the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC) panel’s prioritisation of the population groups. “Process of collecting database of health are workers has started across all States and UTs and Central Ministries. This data is being uploaded on CO-WIN software and will be verified,” Bhushan has also added.
On large-scale distribution of the vaccine, the ministry told reporters that there is current availability of around 2.39 lack vaccinators (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife-ANM) across the country. Only 1.54 lakh ANMs are set to be utilised for COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 vaccination drive to have minimal impact on routine health services including routine immunisation.
He also assured that the current cold chain is equipped to store an additional quantity of COVID-19 vaccine required for first 3 crore health workers and front-line workers. The ministry also highlighted the importance of people’s participation, and that vaccination cannot just be a State’s or the Centre’s responsibility.
In total, three vaccine manufacturers have sought emergency use authorisation in the country in the past few days. The latest being Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin candidate. An expert committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) will meet on Wednesday to review applications of Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech seeking emergency use authorisation for their COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Moreover, the ministry also assessed the COVID-19 situation and said over 14.8 crore COVID-19 tests conducted so far; cumulative positivity rate has dropped down to 6.5% . “Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, West Bengal, Delhi contributed 54% of total active COVID-19 cases in India,” said Health Ministry. It also shed light on the current state in the country, that there is a steady decline in new COVID-19 cases in India since mid-September in comparison to several other countries where infections cases are rising.
