Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan gave an update on the Coronavirus vaccine on Friday and said that three of the nearly 30 coronavirus vaccine candidates in the country are in advanced stages of clinical trials, while four are in the pre-clinical development stage.


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A high-level expert group is looking into matters related to vaccine distribution and immunisation, he said.

"Nationally, nearly 30 vaccine candidates are under development, by both industry and academia. These vaccines are in different stages of pre-clinical and clinical development of which three candidates are in the advanced stage of Phase I/II/III trials and four are in the advanced pre-clinical development stage," Harsh Vardhan said in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Regarding the distribution and availability of the vaccine, Harsh Vardhan said that the coronavirus vaccine is subject to availability.

"Once available, the coronavirus vaccine distribution follows the same route as for the current practice of vaccines distribution under the Universal Immunisation Program (UIP)," he added.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said five National COVID-19 Biorepositories have been established by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). This is a part of the network of 16 COVID-19 biorepositories established in the country by the Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, he added.