However, the government is yet to sign a purchase agreement with Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech as two sides are reportedly negotiating on the price.
TFM Desk
In a major relief for India, which has the second highest number of infections in the world after the US, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that it is prepared to roll out the coronavirus vaccine by January 13.
“We are prepared to roll out Covid-19 vaccines within 10 days of granting emergency use authorisation date, based on dry-run feedback,” said Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan at a press conference. Approval to two vaccines was given on January 3.
The Drug Controller General of India had, on Sunday, announced approvals to two vaccines – Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin – against coronavirus infection – for restricted emergency use.
The vaccine will be first offered to one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline and essential workers and 27 crore elderly, mostly above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities.
However, the government is yet to sign a purchase agreement with Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech as two sides are reportedly negotiating on the price.
On Saturday, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had announced that one crore healthcare workers, along with two crore frontline will get the vaccine for free.