Covid vaccine could be available in early 202: Health Minister Sudhakar

Bengaluru: Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday expressed confidence that the vaccine for Covid-19 would be available early in 2021 and said the government would ensure that it reaches every nook and corner of the State after its launch.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with AstraZeneca managing director Gagan Singh Bedi, he said the first phase of trials of the vaccine was encouraging.

"The first phase trial of the vaccine developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca has been completed and has shown encouraging results. The second and third phase trials are underway," he said.

The minister said Bedi had told him that the company, which is trying to launch the vaccine in the initial months of 2021, has the capacity to supply a billion doses.

"Once it comes out in the market, the government would ensure its availability in every nook and corner of the state," he said.

The first set of people to get it would be the Covid frontline warriors like doctors, nurses and paramedics, followed by elderly people with comorbidities, pregnant and lactating women and children, the minister said.

To a question, he said the results of the first phase trial were encouraging, with 56 people who were administered the vaccine developing antigens, which has remained intact in them since then. "We need to wait for six months to see whether the antigens are maintained," Sudhakar said.

To a question on the price of the vaccine, he said he did not wish to get into the "controversy" over it and would leave it to the discretion of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

He, however, maintained that the State had been conducting tests and providing treatment free of cost.

"Our government is committed to public health. We will make sure it reaches all," Sudhakar said.

Members of the Karnataka Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, as also senior officials and experts on the subject were present during the meeting, the minister said.