COVID-19 Vaccine In India To Be Available By Start Of 2021: Health Minister

New Delhi: A coronavirus vaccine will be available in the country by the beginning of next year, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“Just like other countries, India is also making efforts. Three vaccines candidates are in different phases. Under the Prime Minister’s guidance, an expert group is looking at it and there is advanced planning in place. We are hopeful that by the start of next year, a vaccine will be available in India,” the minister said.

At present, two indigenous vaccines by Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech have completed Phase 1 trials.

Also, the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has resumed trials of Covishield, a vaccine candidate developed jointly by Oxford University researchers and AstraZeneca. SII is conducting the trials at 17 sites across the country.

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