India ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccine from January 13: Union government

The Union government on Tuesday said that supported the feedback from from the COVID-19 vaccine dry-run administered across the country on January 2, it’s able to introduce the COVID-19 vaccine within 10 days from date of emergency use authorisation to the vaccines. this suggests that the Health Ministry could also be poised to roll out the vaccine by January 13, as Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin were both granted emergency use authorisation by the Drugs Controller General of India on January 3.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, said, “Within 10 days of emergency use authorisation, we are prepared to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and Covaxin of the city-based Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use within the country. After two days of exchange of barbs over efficacy, the 2 companies issued a joint statement assuring the graceful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The more important task ahead of them is saving the lives and livelihoods of populations in India and therefore the world. Vaccines are a worldwide public health good and that they have the facility to save lots of lives and accelerate the return to economic normalcy at the earliest,” the joint statement read.

Meanwhile, NITI Aayog member VK Paul had said India has enough stockpile of the COVID-19 vaccine for inoculation of priority groups, including healthcare workers and frontline workers, within the first phase.

Paul, who is additionally the Chairman of National Expert Group On Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) further adding that the govt is hoping that by July, all 30 crore prioritised people are vaccinated a minimum of .

“Our first phase (of vaccination) comprises priority groups with a high risk of mortality and our healthcare and frontline workers. For them, we believe, we’ve enough (COVID-19 vaccine) stockpile,” he said.

Paul noted that “three to four months from now, there’ll be other vaccines and therefore the stockpile are going to be even bigger.”