AMN / NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India is ready for the world’s largest vaccination program this Saturday.
Interacting with the Chief Ministers of all states today, Mr Modi took stock of COVID-19 situation and discussed vaccination roll out programme. He said, two vaccines Covishield and Covaxin, which are made in India, have been granted approval for emergency use. He said, both the vaccines are cost-effective. Apart from these two vaccines, four others are in the pipeline.
Mr Modi said, in the First Phase, the vaccine will be given to the health workers and other frontline workers. The Prime Minister said, in the First Phase, the cost of vaccination for these three crore people will be borne by the Central Government. In the Second Phase, those above 50 years and those under 50 years with co-morbid conditions will be vaccinated. He said, the experts have taken all precautions to provide the countrymen with effective vaccines. He said, the government has made necessary preparations for patients, if the COVID vaccine shows any side-effects.
The Prime Minister said, the discussion and cooperation between states and Centre has helped a lot in the fight against COVID and we have presented a good example of federalism. Prime Minister said that COVID-19 pandemic has not spread in India on that scale, which is being seen anywhere else in the world. He said it is a result of working together by standing unitedly during COVID crisis as well as quick decisions which were taken with full sensitivity.
The Prime Minister urged all States and Union Territories to ensure that rumours around the vaccination programme are not allowed to spread. He said, corporate competition and vested interests of certain lobbies within and outside the country may be at work to fuel the rumours.
Talking about the prevailing situation of Bird Flu in different parts of the country, the Prime Minister said, the government has formalized a roadmap, which needs to be followed at an earliest. He said, District Magistrates will also have a major role to play to check the spread of the disease. Mr Modi said, those states, where no case of Bird Flu has been reported, must maintain proper precaution.