Karnataka Health Minister ensures availability of COVID-19 vaccines early in 2021

• Health Minister believes that a vaccine for COVID-19 would be ready early in 2021.
• He declared that the state had been administering tests and rendering treatment free of cost.

THDNewsDesk: On Tuesday, Dr. K Sudhakar, Karnataka Health Minister, showed faith that a vaccine for COVID-19 would be ready early in 2021. He also stated that the government would ensure that it touches every inch of the state after its launch. This comment came after he met with Gagan Singh Bedi, AstraZeneca Managing Director. He stated the first phase of clinical tests of the vaccine were promising.

He stated, “The first phase trial of the vaccine developed by Oxford/AstraZeneca has been completed and has shown encouraging results. The second and third phase trials are underway.”

Minister stated Bedi had informed him that the company, which was striving to launch the vaccine at the beginning of 2021, could fulfill a billion doses.

Once it reached the market, the Karnataka government would assure that it was made accessible “in every nook and corner of the state.”

Covid frontline warriors will be the priority to get the vaccines. The minister stated that the doctors, nurses and paramedics, senior citizens, comorbidities, pregnant and lactating women, and children would be under the priority list.

To a question, he answered that the results of the first phase of clinical analysis were reassuring. Fifty-six people were given the vaccine promoting antigens, which has survived in them since then.

Health Minister stated, “We need to wait for six months to see whether the antigens are maintained.”

He did not respond to a question regarding the cost of the vaccine. He stated that he did not wish to get into the “controversy” over it. He would give this responsibility to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Though, he affirmed that the state had been administering tests and rendering treatment free of cost.

Sudhakar stated, “Our government is committed to public health. We will make sure it reaches all.”

Members of the Karnataka Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19, as senior executives and specialists on the subject, were also attending the meeting.

Source- The News Minute