PM interacts with three teams involved with developing COVID-19 vaccine; suggests scientists take extra efforts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held virtual meetings with 3 teams working on developing and manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine. These teams were from Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd in Pune, Biological E Ltd in Hyderabad and Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd in Hyderabad.

Mr Modi appreciated the efforts being taken by the scientists in these companies to come out with a vaccine solution to tackle COVID-19 pandemic. The potential of various platforms for vaccine development was also discussed.

He also asked the companies to come out with their suggestions and ideas regarding the regulatory processes and related matters. He also suggested that they should take extra efforts to inform the general public in simple language about the vaccine and related matters such as its efficacy etc. Matters relating to logistics, transport, and cold chain with respect to delivering the vaccines were also discussed.

All the vaccine candidates discussed are at different stages of trials and detailed data and results are expected early next year onwards. The Prime Minister advised all the departments concerned to engage with the manufacturers and seek to resolve matters so that the efforts by these companies bear fruit in order to serve the needs of the country and the entire world.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a 3-city tour recently to conduct an extensive review of the vaccine development and manufacturing process. He visited the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune.

Two of these sites are indigenously developing COVID-19 vaccines and one of these sites is capable of manufacturing crores of doses of vaccines to save the world.

Prime Minister Modi told the scientists that he chose to meet them face to face in order to boost their morale and help accelerate their efforts at this critical juncture in the vaccine development journey. He stressed that India considers vaccines as not only vital to good health but also as a global good. India has become the Pharmacy of the World in its fight against the pandemic. The country is not only leading the world in research for vaccines but will also be crucial for the world's vaccine production. Next month, ambassadors of 100 countries are scheduled to visit Pune to visit Serum Institute of India and Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited.