Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that we are in the end game of the Covid-19 pandemic in India and in order to succeed, politics should be kept out the Covid-19 vaccination drive. He also asserted faith in the Covid-19 vaccines, science behind its development and urged people to get themselves vaccinated without any doubts.
While addressing the Delhi Medical Association’s (DMA’s) 62nd Annual Delhi State Medical Conference (MEDICON 2021) in collaboration with Dharamshila Narayana Hospital on Sunday, Vardhan said over 2 crore Covid-19 vaccine shots have been administered so far and the vaccination rate has been increased to 15 lakhs per day.
“Unlike most other countries, we have a steady supply of Covid-19 vaccines that are safe with proven immunogenicity and efficacy. Based on the initial results, these Made in India vaccines have shown some of the lowest adverse events following immunization (AEFI) anywhere in the world,” he said.
Vardhan asserted that today children in the entire world need to be vaccinated against poliomyelitis only because Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to eradicate this disease from their respective countries, the statement said.
“Similarly, India cannot be safe from coronavirus and COVID19 if rest of the world continues to be unsafe, which is why it is essential to curb COVID-19 vaccine nationalism.
“If poor and underdeveloped countries continue to harbour the novel coronavirus, we shall not be able to ensure safety for all. A fair and equitable distribution of the vaccine is the biggest need of the hour,” he said.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India, has emerged as the world’s pharmacy, and it supplied 5.51 crore Covid-19 vaccines to 62 different countries, he said.
“At a time of global crisis, under the leadership of Modi Ji, India has emerged as an example to the world in international cooperation,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.