New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked state governments to establish cold storage facilities for COVID 19 vaccine and send detailed plans to the centre on how to take the vaccine to the lowest levels.

The Prime Minister who held a meeting with Chief Ministers of various states to review the situation arising out of the COVID pandemic and progress on the development of vaccine, said the mission of Corona virus vaccination of each citizen is like national commitment.

'Vaccine distribution strategy will be chalked out in collective coordination with states. States must also start working on cold storage facilities,’’ he said and added that each State and stakeholder had to work as a team to ensure that this mission is systematic, smooth and a sustained effort.

Urging states to send detailed plans soon on how they plan to take vaccine to lowest levels, he said it would help in making decisions. He hoped for their pro-active participation and said vaccine work is ongoing but there should be no carelessness.

‘’The States are required to establish cold storage facilities for COVID19 vaccine’’.

He said it was not certain whether there would be one, two or three doses of a vaccine and also what would be the price of the vaccine. ‘’We still don't have answers to these questions.’’

The government is keeping a track of each development in vaccine development and is in touch with Indian vaccine developers and manufacturers. The government is also in touch with global regulators, governments of other countries, multinational organizations and international companies.

Describing safety as important as speed he assured that whichever vaccine India gives to its citizens, would be safe on all scientific standards.

‘’Seeing good recovery rates, many think virus is weak and they'll recover soon, this has led to rampant carelessness. Those working on vaccine are doing it but we need to focus on ensuring that people are alert and transmission is curbed. We've to bring positivity rate under five percent,’’ he added.

There is also focus on making oxygen and ventilators available and the government is trying to make the medical colleges and district hospitals self-sufficient in oxygen generation. Efforts were also underway to establish more than 160 oxygen generation plants in the country.

UNI RB