Envoys of 80 countries to visit Hyderabad for glimpse of India’s Covid-19 vaccine status

Amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance that a Covid-19 vaccine could be rolled out in India within a few weeks, ambassadors and high commissioners from about 80 countries will be visiting the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and BE limited which are working on the development of a vaccine. The high profile visit signifies India’s primacy in vaccine development.

Telengana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar held a meeting with senior officials including Chief of Protocol Nagesh Singh to discuss the preparedness and arrangements made for the visit.

"Chief Secretary informed that the dignitaries will be visiting Bharat Biotech Limited and Biological E limited the industrial units which are working on the Covid-19 vaccine in the country. He asked the officials to make fool-proof arrangements duly following all the COVID-19 protocols during the visit of the dignitaries," an official press release said.

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The statement also said that the Ministry of External Affairs is involved in organising the visit of ambassadors and high commissioners. Information on key research and development status of the vaccine development in the country will also be shared with the high-level dignitaries.

Meanwhile, India’s daily count of coronavirus cases increased by less than 40,000 for the sixth consecutive days. The daily rate has come down after the sudden surge in the festive season which saw Delhi being the worst hit.

Modi held an all-party meeting to discuss the preparedness and distribution strategy of the vaccine in the country as soon as the scientists and developers give the necessary approvals.

Priority would be given to healthcare workers especially those treating coronavirus patients, frontline workers and old people suffering from serious conditions, the Prime Minister said.

Modi has also underlined the need to ensure that rumours and false news, which are anti-national and anti human, are not spread during vaccination. “Thus, all political parties must make sure that we save all Indians from such rumours and spread awareness,” he said at the all party meeting.

Last week, Modi interacted with a team of vaccine developers from Zydus Biotech Park, Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India (SII).

India has already secured 1.6 billion doses of Covid 19 vaccines, — the highest in the world, according to Duke University’s global health innovation centre.

The European Union has secured 1.58 billion doses while the US about 1.01 billion..