Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an all-party meeting on Friday laid down the principles of vaccine administration. PM Modi said, “The priority would be given to healthcare workers, frontline workers and elderly people with comorbidities or serious health conditions.”

He added that teams of Central and state governments are working together for vaccine distribution. PM Modi also told the parliamentary leaders of different parties that India has the best skill and capacity in vaccine distribution representing the current vaccine network of universal immunisation.

According to the sources (quoted by news agency PTI), the vaccine for the novel coronavirus will be first given to about one crore health workers. These workers will be part from both the public and private sectors and then to about two crore frontline workers, the Union Health Ministry said in its presentation at the all-party meeting. It will be distributed to about two crore frontline workers such as armed forces, police, municipal workers and others.

Talking about India’s vaccine preparations, PM Modi said, “Experts believe we don’t have to wait for a long period for the vaccine now. It is understood that in the next few weeks, vaccines for COVID-19 will be ready. The Centre is waiting for a go-ahead from the scientists.”

Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 active caseload has gone down to comprise 4.35 per cent of the total COVID-19 infections reported so far from 4.44 per cent on Thursday.