India aims to immune 20-25 crore people with Covid 19 vaccine by August

While the world still awaits a vaccine for coronavirus and trials are underway, India has set a deadline for August to make its vaccine – Covaxin available for all. The estimate of immunizing 20-25 crore people have also been chalked out by the task force.

New Delhi: The central government is planning to immune 20-25 crore people with Covid19 vaccine by July-August, officials privy to the development of Covid19 vaccine in India told ETV Bharat on Wednesday.

"As per estimate the phase I of the vaccine immunisation process will follow a prioritisation policy where health care workers, senior citizens will be vaccinated first," officials said.

In fact, a national task force on Covid19 vaccine in India lead by Niti Aayog member VK Paul has also chalked out a blueprint for vaccine immunisation in the country.

The estimate of 20-25 crore people have also been chalked out by the task force.

"India's Covid19 vaccine candidates are doing good and we are expected that the two indigenous Covid19 vaccine of Bharat Biotech and Zydas Cadila will get the final approval by early next year," said the officials on condition of anonymity.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhusan had recently dashed a letter to all states and UTs asking them to set up immunisation monitoring cell as early as possible.

The letter issued to Chief Secretaries of States and UTs has suggested to set up state steering committee (to be headed by Chief Secretary), the state task force (to be headed by principal secretary-health) and district task force (to be headed by district magistrates). These task forces had been assigned to monitor the planning and implementation of various activities and ensuring interdepartmental coordination with all departments and mobilisation of resources.

The letter has clearly stated that the vaccine will be first prioritised for health care workers (HCW) followed by other frontline workers and age groups.

Talking on the availability of Covid19 vaccines in India, senior health expert and director-general of Association of Health Care Providers Dr Giridhar Gyani said that if all goes well, "India will get the first vaccine by early next year."

"Scientists and pharmaceutical companies in India are working hard to get a vaccine for Covid19. The two ingenious vaccine candidates are also progressing well in their human clinical trial," said Dr Gyani.

Once we get the vaccine, Central government need to look into the distribution of the vaccine across India, said Dr Gyani.

It may be mentioned here that India's drug regulator (DCGI) is also reviewing the progress of Covid19 vaccine on fast track basis.

Recently, Covid19 vaccine candidate of Bharat Biotech has also got approval for Phase III clinical trial. The Oxford vaccine candidate is also doing the Phase III clinical trial.