India Prepares To Launch World’s Largest Vaccination Drive Against COVID-19 In 2021
Massive preparations are underway in India for the launch of the world’s largest vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday amid growing indications that the country’s drug regulators would soon approve the first vaccine for a roll-out in the coming days. Modi said the end of a pandemic-ravaged 2020 had brought with it new hope and urged citizens to unite in the vaccination effort in 2021 the same way as they did to reduce infections in the past year.
People should not believe in rumours and unfounded claims regarding the vaccine, Modi said and claimed that some persons have already started spreading such lies. Preparations to reach out to each beneficiary are in the final stage, Modi said, adding new coronavirus cases are decreasing in the country. ‘In 2020, there was an atmosphere of disappointment and dismay due to the infection. There were doubts everywhere. But 2021 is coming up with a ray of hope in terms of its treatment,’ Modi said. ‘Preparations are in full swing for the vaccination drive in India. Efforts to make a ‘Made in India’ vaccine available to every eligible beneficiary are in its last stage. We are fully prepared to launch the world’s biggest vaccination drive’ Modi said.
The Prime Minister also said the last day of year was one to “remember India’s millions of doctors, health warriors, sanitation workers, those working in drug stores, and other frontline corona warriors”. Three vaccines are being assessed for emergency approval by the Central Drugs Standard and Control Organisation (CDSCO). These are the vaccine candidates developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, which was the first approved anywhere in the world after clinical trials; Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Oxford University-AstraZeneca candidate, which is believed to be the one with the most doses available at the earliest; and one developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited,a completely made-in-India antidote.