Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed the nation, it will be ensured that the Covid-19 vaccine for citizens will meet all necessary scientific criteria. He stressed that just like the focus in the fight against COVID has been on saving each and every life, the priority will be to ensure that the vaccine reaches everyone. He said Governments at all levels will have to work together to ensure that the vaccination drive is smooth, systematic and sustained.

Prime Minister has reassured that the government is keenly watching the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Mr Modi said the government is in contact with Indian developers and manufacturers, along with global regulators, governments of other countries, multilateral institutions and international companies on vaccine development.

The Prime Minister made his remarks during a high-level meeting held with Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories via video conferencing, yesterday to review the status and preparedness of COVID-19 response and management, with special emphasis on eight States. These states are Haryana, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister noted that the priority of vaccination is being decided in consultation with the States and the requirements of additional cold chain storages have also been discussed with the States. Mr Modi asked the Chief Ministers to ensure regular monitoring of the State Level Steering Committee and State and District Level Task Force to ensure better results.

The Prime Minister also forewarned that past experience tells us several myths, and rumours are spread around vaccines and fake news about side effects of the vaccine may also be spread. He emphasized that such anti-social attempts need to be tackled through spreading greater awareness, by taking all possible help including civil society, students of NCC and NSS and the media.

The Prime Minister remarked that the country is facing the pandemic through concerted efforts and in terms of both recovery rate and fatality rate and the situation in India is much better than most other countries. He said that our target should be to bring down the Fatality Rate below one per cent.

He also spoke about the expansion of the testing and treatment network and noted that special emphasis of the PM CARES fund has been to make available oxygen. He said that efforts are on to make medical colleges and district hospitals self-sufficient in terms of oxygen generation, and informed that the process for establishing more than 160 new oxygen plants is underway.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated that it is important to increase RT-PCR tests, ensure better monitoring of patients especially those in home isolation, better equip health centres at village and community level and keep running awareness campaigns for safety from the virus.

Saying India fought COVID-19 bravely, Prime Minister cautioned against any complacency in the fight against Covid 19. The Prime minister observed that after seeing good recovery rates, many think that the virus is rtweak and cautioned this has led to rampant carelessness. He said those working on vaccines are doing a tremendous job, but there is a need to focus on ensuring that people are and transmission is curbed. Mr Modi stressed the need to bring the positivity rate under 5 per cent.