New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told to the opposition party leaders that India will not have to wait for a vaccine against Covid- 19 for long and the first shots could be available in a matter of weeks.

He was convened an all party meeting on Friday to discuss the pandemic situation. Modi said the pricing of the vaccine would be finalized keeping public health interest in mind and after deliberations with the State Governments. He strongly urged political leaders attending the meeting to dispel rumours about the vaccine and said unfounded claims would hurt the fight against the virus. His reference seemed to be the recent controversy over and adverse event during a vaccine trial and concerns over vaccine hesitancy in the wider public.

The rollout of the vaccine will begin as soon as scientists wave the green flag, said Modi at the meeting. That there were eight vaccines being developed that would be manufactured in India and referred to three home grown initiatives.

Modi expressed confidence that progress on vaccine front has strengthened India’s fight against the disease but emphasized that given the resurgence of Covid-19 in parts of the world, the need to use masks and observe hygiene would remain. He broadly confirmed reports on India’s prioritization for the vaccine, saying health and frontline workers and elderly people who are vulnerable to the virus would receive the shots first.

The India’s policies were shaped by scientific and expert advice and this had yielded good results in terms of disease control, treatment and lower mortalities. This will continue to be the case, he added. The Centre and State teams working in close coordination on vaccine strategy, India has vaccine distribution expertise and capacity. We have a vast and experienced vaccination network and the country capitalize on these advantages, he said. Some additional cold chain equipment and other logistics would be required, which would be evaluated with the help of State Governments. India has developed special software, Covin, in which beneficiaries of vaccine, and real time information about availability and the storage of the vaccine will be available, said PM.

A special taskforce has been constituted for vaccine research with technical experts, officials from Ministries concerned and officers from each zone, he said. Congress, TMC, DMK, YSRCP, JD (U), BJD, Siva Sena, TRS, BSP, SP, AIADMK, NCP, JD (S) and BJP participated in the all party meeting with Prime Minister. The leaders assured the Prime Minister of their full support to ensure efficient and speedy vaccination.