Everyone in India is eagerly for August 15, 2020, the Independence Day.
That’s not to celebrate the Independence Day, it’s for the country’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine.
This vaccine, jointly developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech, is currently undergoing clinical trials.
In a letter earlier this week, ICMR had asked all the institutes, designated for clinical trials, to ensure the vaccine is out for public health use by August 15, 2020.
While the authorities are working days and nights to meet that target, the Union Health Ministry has a different version.
As the sources report, the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reportedly said they couldn’t give a timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The ICMR notice on fast-tracking the vaccine was misinterpreted. We are following all standards for the creation of a vaccine,” Harsh Vardhan reportedly said in a statement.
He informed the Indian scientists that they are working on the same and expressed doubt over the vaccine arrival in the next few months.
The Minister also spoke about the rising black marketing of COVID-19 drugs, especially the Remdesivir drug.
The Minister said they have taken actions against the black marketing activity and have arrested them.
“We have told agencies to make data of the medicine available on their websites,” Harsh Vardhan said.
He also informed that there is the community-level transmission of COVID-19 in India yet.
The Minister said states have their right to localize the modification of lockdown rules for controlling the virus spread.
