PM Modi To Take Stock Of Covid-19 Vaccine Development; Visit To Key Facilities In 3 Cities | All You Need To Know

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune on Saturday to review coronavirus vaccine development work at facilities there, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File Photo/ PTI)

PM Modi's Vaccine Tour: As Covid-19 situation of the country remains precarious, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a 3 city visit to personally review the vaccine development and manufacturing process on Saturday. He will visit the Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad, and Serum Institute of India in Pune, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed. "As India enters a decisive phase of the fight against COVID-19, PM Modi's visit to these facilities & discussions with the scientists will help him get a first-hand perspective of the preparations, challenges & roadmap in India’s endeavour to vaccinate its citizens," the PMO said. The tentative schedule of the Prime Minister’s visit is as follows: Zydus Cadilla facility: 9:30 am Bharat Biotech: 1:30 pm Serum Institute: 4:30 pm Zydus Cadilla facility in Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Modi will be visiting the facilities of Zydus Cadila in Ahmedabad where ZyCoV-D is being developed. The prime minister will reach the plant, located in the Changodar industrial area, over 20 km from Ahmedabad, around 9.30 am, an official said. Bharat Biotech facilities in Hyderabad: In Hyderabad, the Prime Minister will go around the facilities in Bharat Biotech to understand the vaccine development process and the preparations to manufacture the doses in large numbers once the vaccine gets approval from the authorities concerned. After landing at Hakimpet Air Force station, Modi will reach Bharat Biotech's facility at Genome Valley at 1.30 pm. It is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials of the vaccine at various centres across the country. Serum Institute In Pune: PM will be visiting the Serum Institute of India facilities in Pune where the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is being manufactured. SII has partnered with global pharma giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University for Covid-19 vaccine named ‘Covishield’ for Indian markets.