By Health In Five Writer
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray informed that the state has formed a task force to ensure distribution of coronavirus vaccine and to execute the vaccination programme in the virtual meeting of chief ministers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to a statement released by the chief minister’s office, Thackeray 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.” Serum Institute of India is the India partner of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Chief Ministers of all States and UTs today via video conferencing, to review the status and preparedness of COVID-19 response and management, with special emphasis on eight high focus States. These States were Haryana, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and West Bengal. The modalities of Covid-19 vaccine delivery, distribution and administration were also discussed during the meeting.
Ramping up health infrastructure
Prime Minister remarked that the country has faced the pandemic through concerted efforts and in terms of both recovery rate and fatality rate, the situation in India is better than most other countries. He talked about the expansion of the testing and treatment network, and noted that special emphasis of the PM CARES fund has been to make available oxygen. He said that efforts are on to make medical colleges and district hospitals self-sufficient in terms of oxygen generation, and informed that the process for establishing more than 160 new oxygen plants is underway.
