News Analysis India

Tag: Union Health Minister

  • Foreign pharmaceutical companies manufacturing covid vaccines can do business here, but on India’s terms: Mandaviya

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said major foreign pharmaceutical companies manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines were demanding indemnity and sovereign immunity waiver to supply their vaccines in India, but the government made it clear that these firms are welcome to do business here but on “our terms”.

    He was speaking at the launch of a book titled ‘A Nation To Protect – Leading India Through The Covid Crisis’ and authored by Priyam Gandhi Mody.

    On foreign pharma companies wanting to supply vaccines in India, he said, “From the very beginning, we had clarity that foreign vaccine manufacturing companies are welcome to do business in the country, but it has to be on India’s terms,” the minister asserted.

    He further said the terms and conditions put forth by such foreign companies strengthened the concept and determination of developing indigenous vaccines and increasing the production.

    “India already had the manpower and brand power, the need was to identify the potential. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was determined and kept on encouraging and motivating scientists and companies,” he stated.

    Mandaviya also said that the world is astonished by India’s vaccination coverage which has reached almost 175 crore, adding that the third COVID-19 wave is on the decline.

    He said there have been fewer deaths during the third wave due to large-scale vaccination, except those who died due to co-morbidities and the elderly.

    Talking about the criticism faced by the Centre over the vaccination drive, the health minister said opposition leaders like Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav had questioned the effectiveness of India-made vaccines and refused to take them after terming them “BJP vaccines”.

    A political personality has followers who get influenced by their comments….And a recent study showed how those pockets where the vaccination rate is slow or where it began late were impacted by Covid, he said.

    Mandaviya also referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioning the availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the country.

    He said the prime minister had asked them not to indulge in politics and stay committed to ensuring that each and every citizen gets vaccinated.

  • Union Health Minister reviews dengue situation in Delhi; Centre to send teams to states with rising cases

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday directed the Union health secretary to identify and send team of experts to states with high active dengue cases, as he reviewed the situation in Delhi and assured the Centre’s full support.

    Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting with the Delhi government to review the public health measures taken for control and management of dengue.

    ​ALSO READ | Dengue death toll rises to six in Delhi; cases mount to over 1,530

    “Reviewed the dengue situation in Delhi and assured Centre’s full support,” the minister tweeted.

    “On-ground initiatives like hotspot identification, fogging and timely treatment will be carried out to curb disease. Centre is also sending a team of experts to states with rising dengue cases,” he said.

    So far this year, six fatalities have been recorded due to the vector-borne disease, while the number of cases has climbed to over 1,530, according to a civic report released on Monday.

    Highlighting the urgency of intervention, the minister pointed out that many poor people are affected by dengue and low platelet count weakens patients, the health ministry said in a statement.

  • Food-borne diseases costing India almost USD 15 billion annually: Vardhan

    The day is celebrated worldwide to draw attention to the fact that food is not only an agricultural or trade commodity, but is also a public health issue.

  • Union Health Minister to hold virtual meeting today on Corona situation and increasing cases of black fungus, Minister TS Singhdev will also join

    In view of the situation of Corona in the country and the increasing cases of black fungus, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Singh has called a meeting. State Health Minister TS Singhdev will be involved in the virtual meeting.
    The meeting will discuss the situation of Corona in the state and the cases of black fungus. Apart from this, talks will also be held with the Union Minister on the vaccination campaign in the state and the problems being faced in it.
    There is a possibility that Black Fungus can be declared an epidemic in the state like Rajasthan government. There will be a discussion with the Union Minister about this. Let us know that so far more than 110 cases of black fungus have been reported in the state.

  • Six crore COVID-19 vaccine doses sent to 76 nations, 4.5 cr doses administered in India: Vardhan

    ldquo;Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party (BJP) president J P Nadda have called for making the vaccination drive a #39; #39;jan andolan #39; #39; (mass movement), quot; he said.

  • No death has occurred due to Covid-19 vaccination, says Harsh Vardhan

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Monday stated that no death has occurred due to Covid-19 vaccination in the country so far.

    Talking about the side effects of the Covid-19 vaccines, he said to ANI, “The side effects are minimal like swelling or fever. This sometimes happens during normal vaccination too. Hospitalisation due to vaccination is 0.0004 – it’s negligible. No death has occurred due to vaccination.”

    The Union Health Minister further said, “If someone dies 4 days or 10 days after inoculation, you can’t link it to vaccination. Every death has been scientifically investigated. High powered experts committee evaluate it, no case has come yet that death is vaccine-induced.”

    He also said that more than one crore frontline workers have been vaccinated so far and more than 20 countries are using our vaccines and added that questioning of the vaccines is politically motivated.

    The second phase of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive for age-appropriate population groups began on Monday with the Union Health Ministry calling out eligible people to get an appointment at respective hospitals in the country.  

  • Harsh Vardhan praises PM Modi for leading by example, urges opposition to take COVID-19 vaccine

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lead by example as he took the first jab of COVID-19 vaccine the day when the vaccination of people above 60 years began, said Union Health and Family Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday. He also urged opposition leaders to take the COVID-19 vaccine and help in ending the vaccine hesitancy.

    Talking to ANI, the Union Minister said, “I have been saying from the beginning that both our vaccines are safe and perfect as far as immunogenicity is concerned. We are thankful to Prime Minister, he has always told us that you have to lead by example. He took the jab first when the vaccination of people above 60 years has begun.”

    Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi took the first dose of Covaxin, a coronavirus vaccine developed in India by biotechnology firm Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

    “Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS,” PM Modi had tweeted with his picture of receiving the jab. “Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19,” the Prime Minister had added.

    Meanwhile, the Union Health Minister added that now we must bury all misconceptions and apprehensions over Covaxin. “Prime Minister Modi took Covaxin, against which a lot of misinformation was spread even when it was scientifically perfect. I think the Prime Minister has given a clear message to the country. All misinformation and hesitancy should be buried once and for all,” the Minister said.

    The Minister also called on the opposition leaders, elected representatives and common people to come forward and get vaccinated as soon as possible.

    “I appeal to all citizens who are above 60 years of age, those above 45 years with comorbidities, all MPs-MLAs and even Opposition MLAs to get vaccinated. This would send a message to people that they should get vaccinated at the earliest,” he said.

    “I will do the booking today and I plan to get vaccinated tomorrow,” the Minister added.

    The second phase of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive for age-appropriate population groups began on Monday with the Union Health Ministry calling out eligible people to get an appointment at respective hospitals in the country. 

  • Health Ministry says 33 states, UTs have less than 5,000 active Covid-19 cases in India

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: As many as 33 states and UTs in the country have less than 5,000 active COVID-19 cases, said Union Health Ministry on Tuesday adding that only two states– Maharashtra and Kerala– have more than 35,000 active cases.

    During a weekly briefing on coronavirus situation in the country, Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry said that the share of active cases is only 3.12 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases in the country.

    “Only 2 States–Kerala and Maharashtra–have more than 35,000 active COVID-19 cases and together they contribute to 71 per cent of COVID-19 cases. Kerala has 65,670 active COVID-19 cases and Maharashtra has 35,991 active COVID-19 cases. Currently, 33 states and UTs in the country have less than 5,000 active COVID-19 cases,” Bhushan said.

    It is remarkable that no death has been reported due to #COVID19 in Delhi, in the last 24 hours: Dr VK Paul, Member, Niti Aayog pic.twitter.com/OdZCO7YWDO
    — ANI (@ANI) February 9, 2021

    “Active cases are only 3.12 per cent of the total cases. Active cases are less than 1.50 lakh and declining. There are 15 states and Union Territories (UT) that have not reported deaths in the last 24 hours. There are seven states and UTs that have not reported deaths in the last three weeks. A total of 55 per cent decline in average daily COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the last five weeks,” he said.

    Bhushan said that COVID-19 deaths are at 112 per million population. “The COVID-19 case per million population is 7,860 and the tests per million population in the country are 146,802,” he added.

    Bhushan said that so far 63,10,194 beneficiaries including healthcare and frontline workers have been vaccinated with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of now.

    “Administration of the second dose of vaccine will begin on February 13. We cannot indefinitely keep on scheduling and rescheduling healthcare workers. States/UTs have been advised that all healthcare workers must be scheduled at least once for vaccination by Feb 20. Timelines are communicated to states,” he added.