Vaccine Supply Is Not Unlimited, Prioritisation Has To Be Done: Dr VK Paul Of NITI Aayog On COVID-19 Vaccine When It Is Available

New Delhi: Amid claims of various state governments that it would provide free COVID-19 vaccinations, the Union government’s expert group on vaccines on Tuesday (October 27) said that they should wait for a clearer picture to emerge on vaccine prioritisation. “We’ve requested state governments to wait for an overall picture to become clear and to take a national approach towards engaging companies, and deciding the criteria for the vaccine. Prioritisation has to be done,” Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog and chairperson of COVID-19 taskforce committee said on Tuesday while addressing a Union Health Ministry’s press conference.

Also Read: Group Of Ministers Mulls Strategy For COVID Vaccine Availability, Distribution By July 2021

He also said that at present there is no vaccine in the world and that it is fortunate that trials are being done on Indian soil.

We are working to look at our approach to vaccine implementation. As and when vaccines are available, and in that regard, the access to vaccines will be in such a way that vaccine supply is not unlimited. Prioritisation has to be done. The prioritisation principles will be determined on the basis of availability of the vaccine, who should be getting that vaccine, he stated.

Dr Paul added that discussions in the committee of Union Government are being conducted and blueprints are being finalized and added that committee and oversee that in order to deliver the vaccine to priority groups, there will be no problems in terms of resources.

Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) who was also present in the media meet informed that currently, three vaccines are in different stages of trial in India.

There are three vaccine candidates in different stages of clinical testing- Covaxin has got approval for phase III trials, Cadila also progressing with phase-II trials & Serum is completing phase 2b trial and has an ongoing trial in Brazil, South Africa, and the US, said Dr Bhargava.

Also Read: Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Produces Immune Response Among Elderly And Young, Says AstraZeneca

(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.