Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar has said that there are all possibilities to get Covid-19 vaccine in the beginning of 2021.
He was speaking in a press conference immediately after the meeting with the officials of AstraZeneca company which is one of the firms involved in the research and trial of Covid Vaccines.
AstraZeneca in collaboration with Serum Institute, Pune has been conducting vaccine trials. It is also conducting trials in collaboration with Oxford University at a global level.
“The first level trial was conducted successfully. Second and third level trials will be conducted on 1600 people. We have asked the company to conduct trials on more number of persons”, said Dr. Sudhakar.
Also, the distribution of vaccines in the state was discussed with AstraZeneca. Company projects to supply vaccines for 100 crore people, the minister said.
“Antibodies were produced in 28 days during the first level of trials. The trials were conducted on healthy persons who are not infected. Second and third level trials involved vaccinating the persons who were recovered from Covid infection. If the trials are successful we will be issuing vaccines in the state once the central government approves it,” added the Minister.
Responding to a question on whether it is a coincidence that Covid’s situation has improved ever since he took charge as Health Minister, Dr. K. Sudhakar said that it is because of the efforts of our corona warriors under the leadership of CM B.S. Yediyurappa that the number of cases has decreased and deaths have come down.
The government is neither hiding nor providing any wrong information about Covid data. WHO itself has appreciated the state government’s transparency in providing Covid statistics, the minister said. Managing Director of AstraZeneca Gagandeep Singh, Chairman of the technical advisory committee Dr. Sudarshan were present in the meeting.