PM Modi hopeful that COVID-19 vaccine will be available in next few weeks — elderly, and frontline healthcare workers will be the first in line

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available to the masses within the next few weeks.
• He also revealed that the elderly, healthcare and frontline workers will be first to be immunised against the disease.
• While India is a world leader in vaccine manufacturing, new models are being discussed to address the issue of cold storage capability and distribution, according to Modi.
  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is optimistic that India will be able to start rolling out its COVID-19 vaccine within the next few weeks. And once available, the elderly, healthcare and frontline workers will be the first to be immunised against the virus.

"Nearly eight vaccines are on different stages of trial with their manufacturing assured in India. Three vaccines from India are at different stages of development. Experts think that the vaccine isn't too far away," he said during an all-party meeting with leaders to discuss the COVID-19 situation and vaccine development in the country on December 4.

And, when it comes to issues of cold storage, Modi assured party leaders that new models are in the works — including a new software management tool called COVIN (Covid 19 Vaccine Intelligence Network).

It will show the current stock of the COVID-19 vaccine available and where it is stored in real-time.

“India has the vaccine distribution expertise and capacity as well. We are much better placed as compared to other countries around the world,” said Modi explaining how India’s network will be leveraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine to the masses.

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