India soon to start world's largest vaccination programme: Modi

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 4

A day after the drug regulator approved two COVID-19 vaccines, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday has said the world’s biggest vaccination drive against the virus is set to begin in the country.

Addressing the National Metrology Conclave, the Prime minister lauded scientists and technicians for the vaccines which were “Made in India” and said the country was proud of them.

“The new year has brought new achievements, as India’s scientists have succeeded in producing two indigenous COVID-19 vaccines. The world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme is set to begin in India. The country is proud of the contributions of its scientists for this. Every Indian is indebted to our scientists and technicians,” the PM said.

Also read: Enough stockpile of COVID-19 vaccine for inoculation of priority groups in first phase: VK Paul

He also called upon the Council got Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) scientists to interact more and more with the country’s children in schools and share their experiences with them.

“This,” he said, “will help inspire the new generation.”

The Prime Minister also called for ensuring that ‘Made in India’ products not only had global demand but also global acceptance.

“Quality is as important as quantity. Our standards should rise with our scale in our quest for Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

India’s drugs’ regulator DCGI on Sunday approved the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech’s indigenously developed Covaxin for restricted emergency use in the country.

Seed viral strain for the Biotech vaccine was provided by ICMR lab National Institute of Virology Pune.