India will launch one of the world’s most ambitious coronavirus vaccinations this coming Saturday, aiming to reach 300 million people by July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced.
The vaccine should be free for the country’s 1.3 billion population and Modi said the launch on January 16 would be an important step in the fight against the pandemic.
India is the second world to be hit the hardest – behind the United States – with more than 10 million cases, although the death toll is one of the lowest in the world.
The first phase will include about 30 million health and other frontline workers, including security forces and 270 million people over 50 or at greatest risk of Covid-19.
The government has said it wants to acquit the first 300 million people by the end of July and has already hosted mass trials with vaccination centers across the country.
Approximately 150,000 staff in 700 districts have been trained and approximately 290,000 temperature-controlled supply points, 240 walk-in coolers, 70 walk-in freezers, 45,000 bar fridges are ready for use.
The government has approved two vaccines – AstraZeneca / Oxford University’s Covishield and one manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech.
The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, Serum Institute of India (SII), says it has produced about 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca product and aims to increase production to 100 million doses per month by March.
But the Indian government is not yet finalizing a contract of sale with Serum amid reports that they have been wrestling with Serum over the price.
The number of new coronavirus cases reported every day has dropped dramatically in recent weeks.
But the announcement of the vaccination process came after the health ministry said the number of people who tested positive for a virulent new strain of the coronavirus found in Britain had increased to 90.
India only allows flights from Britain to resume after a 16-day suspension due to the new tension.
The Delhi regional government has ordered all passengers from Britain to undergo 14 days of isolation, even if they test negative for Covid-19.
Authorities are still trying to track down thousands of passengers who arrived on flights from Britain before the suspension was ordered.
as / tw / jfx