Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday informed PM Narendra Modi that he is in constant touch with Adar Poonawalla of Serum Institute and that the state has formed a task force to ensure timely distribution of vaccine and executing the vaccination programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted via video conferencing with chief ministers of states that are witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases to review the COVID-19 situation. The CMs who are attending the meeting include Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Kerala CM P Vijayan, and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.
Union Home minister Amit Shah, Health minister Harsh Vardhan, and NITI Aayog member VK Paul are also present at today's meet.
Besides reviewing the COVID-19 situation, the PM and CMs will also discuss the strategy to distribute vaccines.
Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla on Monday expressed happiness at pharma major AstraZeneca''s announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been found to be 70 per cent effective on average.
In a tweet, Poonawalla said, "I am delighted to hear that, Covishield, a low-cost, logistically manageable & soon to be widely available, #COVID19 vaccine, will offer protection up to 90% in one type of dosage regime and 62% in the other dosage regime...".