World's biggest inoculation drive against COVID-19 to begin in India: PM Narendra Modi
A day after the two vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield, were approved for restricted emergency use, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, said that the world’s biggest inoculation drive against COVID-19 is set to begin in India.
The PM lauded the technicians and scientists for the “Made in India” vaccines and added that the country is proud of them. He said, “World's biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme set to begin in India. For this, the country is proud of the contributions of its scientists and technicians.”
PM Modi while addressing the scientists at the National Metrology Conclave said that it has to be ensured that the “Made in India” products must not only have global demand, but global acceptance. He added, “Quality is as much important as quantity, our standards should rise with our scale in our quest for Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”
On Sunday, India’s drug regulator approved Oxford Institute's Covishield- developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The approval has received mixed reactions from political stalwarts as some, including Congress leader Sashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh, have questioned the alleged “premature approval of Covaxin.”
Drug Controller General of India VG Somani however, while approving the vaccines said, "We'll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 110 percent safe.”
