India may start vaccinating people against COVID in January: Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi : India may begin vaccinating people against COVID-19 in January and the government’s first priority has been safety and efficacy of the vaccine, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said.
“I personally feel may be in January in any stage or any week, there can be a time when we can be in a position to give first COVID vaccine shot to people of India” Harsh Vardhan told ANI in an exclusive interview.   He was asked about India’s vaccination drive against coronavirus.
The minister said that the vaccines, including those who have applied for emergency use authorization, are being analyzed by the regulator.    “India is not less than any country when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine and research. Our first priority has been the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. We do not want any comprise on that. Our regulators are analyzing them with seriousness,” he said.
The minister had said on Saturday that the country’s scientists and health experts have worked on the development of an indigenous vaccine and in the upcoming six to seven months India will have the capacity to inoculate about 30 crore people.