PM Narendra Modi at all-party meet: COVID-19 vaccine expected to be ready within few weeks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for an all-party meeting on December 4, 2020 to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation and all the related challenges  including vaccine distribution and post-COVID India.

During the meeting, PM Narendra Modi informed the opposition leaders that a COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be ready in the next few weeks. He stated that as soon as scientists give a green signal, COVID vaccination will start in India.

The floor leaders of parties of both Houses of Parliament were invited for the virtual meeting. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Harsh Vardhan and Rajnath Singh  were also present at the meeting. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Plan 

The Prime Minister reiterated that healthcare and frontline workers and elderly people suffering from serious diseases will be given priority in COVID-19 vaccination. 

PM Modi then invited suggestions from the opposition leaders regarding the COVID-19 situation and assured that the recommendations will be considered seriously. He appealed to the leaders of all political parties to send their suggestions in writing.   

Speaking at the All Party Meeting. https://t.co/TZaJ5DJBXz

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2020

COVID-19 vaccine pricing 

PM Modi highlighted during the meeting that the Indian scientists are very confident of succeeding in their endeavour of making the COVID vaccine. He stated that the world is keeping a watch on the cheapest and safest vaccine.

According to the Prime Minister, the Centre is conducting talks with all the state governments over the price of the vaccine. He stated that the decision regarding the pricing of the COVID vaccine will be taken keeping public health as the topmost priority.

COVID vaccine roll-out

The Prime Minister informed that the teams of the central and state governments are working together for the rollout of the COVID vaccine in the country. He assured that India has the expertise and capacity in vaccine distribution and fares better compared to other nations.

He added saying that India has a very big and experienced network in the field of vaccination and the government plans to fully exploit the same to rollout COVID vaccination.

Background

This is the second all-party meeting called by PM Modi since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It follows Prime Minister's visit to three COVID-19 vaccine facilities in India that are developing the vaccine and meeting with three vaccine manufacturer teams.

The Prime Minister had visited Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune on November 28, 2020 to review vaccine development and manufacturing process.

The centre is currently working on building a robust vaccine manufacturing and delivery ecosystem to meet the demand. Almost five pharmaceutical companies are engaged in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine in India. 

The Serum Institute of India in Pune has been chosen for the mass production of Covishield, a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford-Astra Zeneca.