As India eagerly awaits the regulatory approval for the coronavirus vaccine, a senior government official on Tuesday said that the country is at a point where the silver bullet can be expected in a “few days”.
Addressing a press conference, Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), Niti Aayog said: “We are that point where we can expect vaccine in a few days. We have to move forward with optimism. We expect that the coming days will be better.”
India currently has eight Covid-19 vaccine candidates, including three indigenous vaccines, under different stages of clinical trials which could be ready for authorization in near future.
Serum Institute-Oxford’s Covishield, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Pfizer vaccines are in the fray for emergency use authorization.
The Central government plans to vaccinate nearly 30 crore people in the first phase of the drive. It will be offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with 2 crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crores elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities.
On Monday, the Pune-based Serum Institute of India had also alluded to the possibility of the Covid-19 vaccine – Covishield – receiving the regulatory approval in a “few days”.
