COVID-19: Union Health Minister assures 'fair and equitable distribution' of vaccine

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan spoke about distribution of COVID-19 vaccine during his 'Sunday Samvaad'. Dr Harsh Vardhan said that government is working hard to ensure 'fair and equitable distribution' of vaccines after it's ready. He also added that government aims to receive and administer vaccine to about 25 crore people by end of July 2021. 

"Our government is working round clock to ensure that re is a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines, once y are ready. Our utmost priority is how to ensure COVID-19 vaccine for each and everybody in country. re is a high-level expert body going into all aspects of vaccines. Our rough estimate and target would be to receive and utilise 400 to 500 million doses covering approximately 25 crore people by July 2021," said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

Dr Harsh Vardhan took this opportunity to dismiss rumours about illegal organ trade and said, "I don't kw who is spreading se rumours but y are t true." Health Minister also urged people to donate plasma while adding that plasma donation is safe and easier than blood donation. 

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COVID-19 vaccine in India

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and University of Oxford are working in collaboration with Pune-based Serum Institute of India for ir COVID-19 vaccine candidate which is in third phase of trials. On or hand, Zydus Cadila began phase two trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in August. Bharat Biotech has commenced phase two trials of its vaccine candidate from September onwards. Indian pharmaceutical Dr Reddy's Laboratories has also joined race as it sought permission from Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to perform phase III clinical trials of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India. 

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WHO to COVAX participants 

Earlier, WHO (World Health Organisation) had informed that over 170 countries have joined its COVAX initiative. This initiative was launched in April and aims to ensure safe and fair distribution of vaccines across world. At same time, it also cautioned that a race to develop an effective vaccine for Coronavirus can lead to public fears about safety. WHO chief Tedros Adham Ghebreyesus said that world cant risk having an effective Coronavirus vaccine that people refuse because y think it is unsafe.

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(With inputs from ncies)