Karnataka health minister confident of Covid-19 vaccine by early 2021

Karnataka well being minister Dr Ok Sudhakar on Tuesday expressed confidence {that a} vaccine for Covid-19 could be accessible early in 2021 and mentioned the federal government would be certain that it reaches each nook and nook of the state after its launch.

Speaking to reporters after a gathering with AstraZeneca Managing Director Gagan Singh Bedi, he mentioned the primary section of trials of the vaccine had been encouraging.

“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,” he mentioned.

The Minister mentioned Bedi had instructed him that the corporate, which was attempting to launch the vaccine within the preliminary months of 2021, had the capability to produce a billion doses.

Once it got here out out there, the Karnataka authorities would be certain that it was made accessible “in every nook and corner of the state,” he mentioned.

The first set of individuals to get it will be the covid frontline warriors like docs, nurses and paramedics, adopted by aged folks with comorbidities, pregnant and lactating ladies and kids, the minister mentioned.

To a query, he mentioned the outcomes of the primary section trial had been encouraging, with 56 individuals who had been administered the vaccine creating antigens, which has remained intact in them since then.

“We need to wait for six months to see whether the antigens are maintained,” Sudhakar mentioned.

To a query on the value of the vaccine, he mentioned he didn’t want to get into the “controversy” over it and would go away it to the discretion of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

He nonetheless, maintained that the state had been conducting assessments and offering remedy freed from price.

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

Members of the Karnataka Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19, as additionally senior officers and consultants on the topic had been current in the course of the assembly, the minister mentioned.