Centre Examining All Possible Storage Facilities For Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday (November 17) said that the central government is examining all possibilities to extend cold chain facilities in case Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine needs to be procured. Responding to a query on vaccine storage at low temperature, Dr VK Paul, NITI Aayog member (Health) said it would be a huge challenge for any country to maintain cold chain facility at a lower temperature of -70 degree or -80 degree celsius and scale-up vaccine procurement.

Also Read: Pfizer Says COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Complete, Cites Shot Is 95 Per Cent Effective

However, knowing all the circumstances, we are examining how to scale up vaccine storage facilities. We are keeping a close watch on the development of these vaccines and we are also aware of the fact that we won’t be able to get a large number of doses of this vaccine required for our population. In case, union government procures it, all necessary arrangements will be made parallelly, said Dr Paul at a media briefing on COVID-19 update in India.

The NITI Aayog member further said that there are five COVID-19 vaccine candidates under various stages of clinical trials in India of which two are in the third phase.

India is one of the countries which is showing good progress in COVID-19 vaccine trials. Serum Oxford vaccine is in the completion of the phase 3 trials and Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine’s candidate has begun phase 3 trials and the results for phase 2 trials can be announced any time. Zydus Cadila has completed phase 2 trials, Dr Paul said.

The Russian vaccine in collaboration with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories will begin phase 2 and 3 clinical trials soon while Biological E coronavirus vaccine’s early phase 1 and 2 clinical trials have been launched, he added.

Also Read: Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij Offers To Be ‘First Volunteer’ For Phase-III Trial Of Covaxin In The State

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.