PM Modi to visit Ahmedabad, Hyderabad & Pune today; will review COVID vaccine status

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit three cities on Saturday to review status of COVID-19 vaccine. He will visit Bharat Biotech’s facilities in Hyderab, Zydus Cila in Ahmedab and Serum Institute of India in Pune. While Bharat Biotech is developing  'Covaxin', Zydus Cila's ZyCoV-D is under development and Serum Institute of India has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for manufacturing of latter's COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, officials at Serum Institute said that y h t received his minute-to-minute schedule. 

"We have received a confirmation about PM Modi's visit to Serum Institute of India on Saturday, but his minute-to-minute program is yet to be received," Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao told PTI. 

Central Drug Standard Control Organisation has granted permission for manufacture of COVID-19 vaccine for pre-clinical test, examination and analysis to seven firms, two of which are Serum Institute of India (SII) and Genva Biopharmaceuticals. On or hand, Bharat Biotech on vember 16 said it has started phase III trials for 'Covaxin', that is being developed in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

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Incidentally, PM Modi's visit comes just days after AIMIM chief Asuddin Owaisi issued a challenge to BJP to bring Prime Minister Modi for campaigning in Greater Hyderab Municipal polls. Home Minister Amit Shah will campaign in Hyderab on vember 29, UP CM Yogi ityanath will campaign on vember 28 and BJP chief JP Nda on Friday.  PM Modi's visit will mostly focus on reviewing status of vaccine candidate against Coronavirus and to kw about its launch, production and distribution mechanisms.

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PM Modi on vaccine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 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," PM Modi said.

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. 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.

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