COVID-19: PM Modi Holds Virtual Meeting With States, Home Minister Amit Shah Also Present

The Narendra Modi government has also been putting in place measures for quick and effective distribution of coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a virtual meeting with state chief ministers to discuss the COVID-19 situation. Home Minister Amit Shah is also present in the meeting. According to the reports, the prime minister will also discuss the vaccine distribution strategy with the states. PM Modi is expected to hold two back to back meetings, one with eight states with high caseloads and another with states and UTs to discuss vaccine distribution strategy, sources said.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel is attending the meeting with PM Narendra Modi & other chief ministers over #COVID19 situation. Home Minister Amit Shah also participating.

(Photo source: Chhattisgarh CMO) pic.twitter.com/xkmCBNBp4g

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020

The prime minister, till now, has held several virtual meetings with states over the coronavirus situation. While the national daily COVID-19 case count has remained below 50,000 for some time, several urban centres have witnessed a surge, resulting in enforcement of several measures, including curfews in some cities.

The central government has also been putting in place measures for quick and effective distribution of coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available. Five vaccine candidates are in advanced stages of development in India, out of which four are in Phase II/III and one is in Phase-I/II trials.

The UK government on Monday said that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) is reviewing data from Pfizer/BioNTech to determine whether its COVID-19 vaccine meets “robust” standards of quality, safety, and effectiveness.

The joint vaccine, produced by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German biotech firm BioNTech, had recently claimed to be 94 per cent effective in protecting people over 65 years old from COVID-19, with trials suggesting it works equally well in people of all ages, races and ethnicities.