New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the government is keeping a close watch on the development of vaccines and will ensure that the vaccine reaches everyone.
PM Modi was addressing a virtual conference with chief ministers of all states and union territories to review the status and preparedness of COVID-19 response and management, with special emphasis on eight high focus States.
These states are – Haryana, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal.
The modalities of Covid-19 vaccine delivery, distribution and administration were also discussed during the meeting.
The Prime Minister said that government is keeping a close watch on the development of vaccines and is in contact with Indian developers and manufacturers, along with global regulators, governments of other countries, multilateral institutions and international companies.
“Just like the focus in the fight against Covid-19 has been on saving each and every life, the priority will be to ensure that the vaccine reaches everyone,” he said.
He assured that the distribution of the vaccine shall be a transparent process. The prime minister also said that the government at all levels will have to work together to ensure that the vaccination drive is smooth, systematic and sustained.
In addition to this, he noted that the priority of vaccination is being decided in consultation with the States. The requirements of additional cold chain storages have also been discussed with the CMs.
Modi also asked the Chief Ministers to ensure regular monitoring of State Level Steering Committee and State and District Level Task Force to ensure better results.
On the pandemic situation, PM Modi said that the country needed to bring down the positivity rate to 5 per cent and the fatality rate below 1 per cent.
The Prime Minister also noted that it is important to increase RT-PCR tests, ensure better monitoring of patients especially those in home isolation, better equip health centres at village and community level and keep running awareness campaigns for safety from the virus.
-CHK
