Modi holds virtual meeting with teams involved in developing, manufacturing Covid vaccine

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held virtual meetings with three teams working on developing and manufacturing vaccines for COVID-19 and asked them to furnish suggestions regarding regulatory processes.

These teams were from Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Pune, Biological E Ltd Hyderabad and Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd Hyderabad. Dr Reddy’s is in partnership with Russia to produce the Sputnik V vaccine. Biological E is making its own vaccine and so is Gennova.

The PM appreciated the efforts being made by scientists to come out with a vaccine to tackle COVID-19.

The potential of various platforms for vaccine development was also discussed.

The PM also asked the companies to come out with their suggestions and ideas regarding the regulatory processes and related matters.

He suggested that they should make extra efforts to inform the general public in simple language about the vaccine and related matters such as its efficacy. Matters relating to logistics, transport and cold chain in respect of delivering the vaccines were also discussed.

All the vaccine candidates discussed are at different stages of trials and detailed data and results are expected early next year onwards.

The PM advised all the departments concerned to engage with the manufacturers and seek to resolve matters so that the efforts by these companies bear fruit in order to serve the needs of the country and the entire world.