Centre Has Plan To Vaccinate Around 30 Crore People For COVID-19 By July-August: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday (November 20) said that the Central government has a plan to provide coronavirus vaccines to around 25-30 crore people by July-August next year. “In the first 3-4 months of next year, there is a possibility that we will be able to provide vaccine to the people of the country. By July-August, we have a plan to provide vaccines to around 25-30 crore people and we are preparing accordingly,” Dr Vardhan told reporters here.

Also Read: PM Modi Appreciates Scientists’ Efforts To Come Out With Vaccine Solution To Combat COVID-19

I would like to request everyone to remember and follow COVID-19 appropriate behaviour like wearing masks and following social distancing. These are important for health, he said.

Dr Harsh Vardhan who is also Chairman of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) distributed masks and soaps at the Old Delhi Railway Station today (November 30).

We will soon be completing eleven months in our fight against COVID. Since then, the most important principle to protect ourselves and others is to follow basic principles of hygiene and physical distancing. In the fight against COVID, our biggest weapon is mask and sanitiser, he said.

The Union Minister highlighted that India has one of the highest recovery rates in the whole world.

Also Read: High Storage Cost Of Ultra-Cold COVID-19 Vaccines Should Not Hinder Use: World Health Organisation

From 1 lab in January 2020, we now have 2,165 labs. More than a million people are being tested on a daily basis. We have completed 14 crore cumulative tests today. This all shows the determination of the government and relentless efforts of our corona warriors whose contribution is significant in fighting the pandemic, he said.

“Under the able guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India has become self-reliant in production of masks, PPE kits, ventilators etc. More than 10 lakh PPE kits are being manufactured every day in India. And now, our scientists are instrumental in the research for the vaccine and it will be available on time,” he said.

Also Read: Centre May Purchase 300-400 Million Covishield Doses By July 2021: Serum Institute’s Adar Poonawalla

India’s coronavirus tally breached the 94-lakh mark after 38,772 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s data on Monday (November 30).

The overall coronavirus cases reached 94,31,692 including 4,46,952 active cases and 88,47,600 recoveries. With 443 new deaths, the cumulative toll mounted to 1,37,139.

Also Read: Prime Minister Reviews Vaccine Development, Manufacturing At Three Facilities

(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.