 "About 18-19 vaccines against Covid-19 in the pipeline: Harsh Vardhan")
About 18-19 vaccine candidates against COVID-19 are in the pipeline and in different clinical trial stages, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.
Addressing the media, Vardhan said that in the next 2-3 weeks, vaccinations against COVID-19 will be started for people above 50 years of age.
"About 18-20 vaccine candidates against COVID-19 are in the pipeline and are in preclinical, clinical and advanced stages," Vardhan said.
He further said that India will be supplying vaccines to 20-25 other countries.
Dispelling rumours surrounding the vaccines, Vardhan said the vaccines in the public domain are safe and effective.
He said no new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 188 districts of the country in the last 7 days, while no new cases have been reported in 21 districts in 21 days.
Vardhan further urged people to keep following COVID appropriate behaviour.
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"It is crucial that people continue to follow COVID appropriate behaviour which I call social vaccine, along with real vaccines," he said.
India has approved two vaccines -- Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India -- for emergency use in the country.