COVID-19: Centre's Expert Group on vaccine to meet on Wed; discuss priority, logistics

Central government's National Expert Group on Vaccine ministration will meet on Wednesday to discuss logistics and ethical aspects of procurement and ministration of a Coronavirus vaccine, Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday.  committee under chairmanship of NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul will discuss who gets vaccine first once a successful candidate gets all necessary ds from regulators.

committee would chalk out strategies on aspects of prioritisation of vaccine ministration once it is developed, rollout cold chain logistics and training of people who would be ministering it.

"This expert group will continue its engment with all state governments and vaccine manufacturers in India," health secretary Rajesh Bhushan told reporters in a press briefing.  official, however, declined to give a response when asked if  government is planning to tie-up with Russia to bring its 'Sputnik V' vaccine to India or any such collaboration.

re are over a hundred vaccine candidates being developed across world to combat Coronavirus pandemic that has infected over two crore people worldwide and killed at least 7.4 lakh. India itself has reported 22.6 lakh cases and a death toll of 45,257.

mass rollout of a potential vaccine would require effective and prudent planning and manment strategies by governments at both federal and state levels, given that a sizeable section of India's population — elderly and those with comorbidities — is susceptible to COVID-19.

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3 vaccine candidate trails in India

Ministry informed that as of w, re are three vaccine candidates which are in different sts of human trials in India.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India has been permitted for conducting Phase 3 human clinical trials of Oxford University-developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate in country.

Phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials of a vaccine candidate developed indigeusly by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research is also underway. Likewise, candidate developed by Ahmedab-based Zydus Cila is also undergoing trails.

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