Union Health Ministry Briefing on COVID-19 – Read all updates about COVID-19

During press briefing on vaccine candidates ICMR has confirmed about 3 vaccine candidates who are in different stages of clinical testing – Covaxin of Bharat Biotech who is going start Phase-3 trails , Cadila who doing Phase-2 trails and Serum whi is completing phase -3 trails.

“3 vaccine candidates in different stages of clinical testing- Covaxin has got approval for phase III trials, Cadila also progressing with phase-II trials & Serum is completing phase 2b trial and has an ongoing trial in Brazil, South Africa & US” says Dr.Balram Bhargava , DG, ICMR

In order to delivery of a vaccine there is no problem in terms of resources Dr. VK Paul Said “We’ve requested state govts to wait for overall picture to become clear & to take a national approach towards engaging companies & deciding the criteria for vaccine. In order to deliver the vaccine to priority groups, there’s no problems in terms of resources.”

In India below the age of 17 years are 8% who tested positive and below the age of 5 years who tested positive is less than 8% informs Dr.Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR during a press briefing on Covid-19 “Overall the figure in India is that below the age of 17 years, only 8% are positive, and below the age of 5 years, that figure would be much less.”

According to Rajesh Bhushan who is Secretary, Union Health Ministry “During festival season cases are increasing in few states like Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka, Delhi, and Maharashtra , But there is also continuously decline in number deaths from few weeks. More than half 58% of new deaths in 24 hours are reported in 5 states and Union Territories.”

“All over Recovery rate is 90.62% which is a good sign.” he adds

Those countries whoes economic cappability is greater they couldn’t handle situation in second peak which has given lesson “Even countries of much greater economic capability, per capita income and good health system can succumb to a huge second peak is a lesson for all of us. We are very fortunate that our trend is in the opposite direction:” Says Dr.VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog