Govts have to work as team to ensure vaccination drive is smooth, sustained: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said any vaccine against coronavirus that is ministered to citizens will meet all necessary scientific criteria and stressed that governments at all levels will have to work toger to ensure that vaccination drive is smooth, systematic and sustained.

Interacting with chief ministers and or representatives of states and Union Territories, Modi said vaccine research has reached almost final sts and government was closely monitoring development process, while maintaining contacts with all stakeholders.

modalities of COVID-19 vaccine delivery, distribution and ministration were discussed during meeting.

"It is t yet decided wher re will be one, two or three doses of vaccine. ir prices are also t decided. We don't have answers to such questions right w as re are different people in world making it. corporate world is involved, re is competition among m, countries have ir diplomatic interests, have to wait for WHO also," Modi said.

He asked chief ministers to ensure regular monitoring of state level steering committee and state and district level taskforces to ensure better results, Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on meeting.

Prime Minister Modi forewarned that past experience tells several myths and rumours are spre around vaccines, according to statement.

ting that rumours about side effects of vaccine may be spre, he emphasised that such attempts need to be tackled through spreing greater awareness, by taking all possible help including of civil society, National Cet Corps cre and National Service Scheme and media.

prime minister reassured that government is keeping a close watch on development of vaccines and is in contact with Indian developers and manufacturers, along with global regulators, governments of or countries, multilateral institutions and international companies.

It will be ensured that vaccine for citizens meets all necessary scientific criteria, Modi said, asserting that both speed and safety was focus of vaccine development.

He underlined that just like focus in fight against COVID-19 has been on saving each and every life, priority will be to ensure that vaccine reaches everyone.

Governments at all levels will have to work toger with coordination as a team to ensure that vaccination drive is smooth, systematic and sustained, he said.

Prime Minister Modi ted that priority of vaccination is being decided in consultation with states.

requirements of ditional cold chain stors have also been discussed with states and y must start working in that direction, he said.

Asserting that India has a lot more experience than many or countries when it comes to vaccines, he said whichever vaccine India ministers will pass all scientific parameters and procedures.

prime minister also urged states to send ir detailed plans on vaccine ministration, underlining that a final vaccine distribution strategy will be chalked out in collective coordination with states.

Five vaccines are under different phases of clinical trial in India with Serum Institute of India conducting phase-3 trial of Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine while indigeusly developed Bharat Biotech and ICMR vaccine has alrey started phase III clinical trial.

Indigeusly-developed vaccine by Zydus Cila has completed phase -2 clinical trial in country.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories will soon start combined phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India.

Biological E. Ltd has started early phase 1 and 2 human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate.