Vaccination of Indians against Covid may start in January: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi: India may begin vaccinating people against Covid-19 in January and the government’s first priority has been safety and efficacy of the vaccine, health minister Harsh Vardhan has said. “I personally feel may be in January in any stage or any week, there can be a time when we can be in a position to give first Covid vaccine shot to people of India” Vardhan said.

The minister said that the vaccines, including those who have applied for emergency use authorisation are being analysed by the regulator. “India is not less than any country when it comes to Covid-19 vaccine and research. Our first priority has been the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. We do not want any comprise on that. Our regulators are analysing them with seriousness,” he said.

The minister had earlier said that in the upcoming six to seven months India will have the capacity to inoculate about 30 crore people. According to the health ministry, there are nine Covid-19 vaccine candidates in different phases of clinical trials in India.