Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has reassured that the government is keeping a
close watch on the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Mr Modi said , the
government is in contact with Indian developers and manufacturers, along
with global regulators, governments of other countries, multilateral
institutions and international companies on vaccine development.
The
Prime Minister added that it will be ensured that the vaccine for
citizens will meet all necessary scientific criteria. He stressed that
just like the focus in the fight against COVID has been on saving each
and every life, the priority will be to ensure that the vaccine reaches
everyone. He said, Governments at all levels will have to work together
to ensure that the vaccination drive is smooth, systematic and
sustained.
The Prime Minister made his remarks during a high-level
meeting held with Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories
via video conferencing, to review the status and preparedness of
COVID-19 response and management, with special emphasis on eight high
focus States. These States are Haryana, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Kerala,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal.
During the meeting,
the Prime Minister noted that the priority of vaccination is being
decided in consultation with the States and the requirements of
additional cold chain storages has also been discussed with the States.
Mr Modi asked the Chief Ministers to ensure regular monitoring of State
Level Steering Committee and State and District Level Task Force to
ensure better results.
The Prime Minister also forewarned that past
experience tells us several myths and rumours are spread around vaccines
and rumours about side effects of the vaccine may be spread. He
emphasized that such attempts need to be tackled through spreading
greater awareness, by taking all possible help including civil society,
students of NCC and NSS and the media.
The Prime Minister remarked
that the country has faced the pandemic through concerted efforts and in
terms of both recovery rate and fatality rate and the situation in
India is better than most other countries. He said that our target
should be to bring down Fatality Rate below one per cent. He also talked
about the expansion of the testing and treatment network, and noted
that special emphasis of the PM CARES fund has been to make available
oxygen. He said that efforts are on to make medical colleges and
district hospitals self-sufficient in terms of oxygen generation, and
informed that the process for establishing more than 160 new oxygen
plants is underway.
Prime Minister Modi noted that it is important to
increase RT-PCR tests, ensure better monitoring of patients especially
those in home isolation, better equip health centres at village and
community level and keep running awareness campaigns for safety from the
virus. Saying India fought COVID-19 bravely, Prime Minister cautioned
against complacency in fight against Covid 19. The Prime minister said,
after seeing good recovery rates, many think that virus is weak . He
cautioned this has led to rampant carelessness. He said, those working
on vaccine are doing it but there is a need to focus on ensuring that
people are and transmission is curbed. Mr Modi stressed the need to
bring positivity rate under 5 per cent.
Chief Ministers of Delhi,
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Haryana,
Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana among others attended the
meeting through video conferencing. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union
Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Health
Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and NITI Aayog Member Dr. V K Paul were also
present in the high level COVID review meet.
The Prime Minister had
earlier on last friday held a meeting with top officials on India's
strategy for developing a vaccine and making it accessible to the
masses.
(With input from news agency language)
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