Thank you for following DH's live coverage on the Health Minister Harsh Vardhan's weekly address.
Doing best under able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Dr Vardhan in his closing remarks.
Answering why India has more cases than Pakistan, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that India has the highest recovery rate in the world and it is unfair to compare India with Pakistan in terms of Covid-19 cases.
"We were reporting over 90,000 cases a week ago, but we are recording less now," he said.
Not possible to comment on the superiority of Covid-19 vaccine as data is still emerging: Health Minister
Vaccine procurement is being done centrally to ensure it reaches those who need it the most: Harsh Vardhan
Details of the entire process to be shared in the coming months. Distribution of vaccine biggest priority. A high-level committee under V K Paul is heading the plans: Harsh Vardhan
Coronavirus vaccine will be distributed in a pre-planned and prioritised manner to ensure transparency and accountability: Harsh Vardhan
Safety of students of utmost priority: Harsh Vardhan on MHA guidelines on reopening of schools
Important to fight Covid-19, not fear it, said Health Minister Harsh Minister in his live video address.
Harsh Vardhan said that India is not planning to enter human challenge trials unless proven that it is safe and effective. "Should be taken with abundant caution and foresight. It should justify the risks," he added.
Media persons also corona-warriors, says Harsh Vardhan, answering to a question by a social media user whether on journalists are abiding by the social-distancing norms.
"Two-dose vaccine regime can also help controlling the coronavirus pandemic, not necessarily single-dose vaccine," Vardhan said.
He also recommended 40 minutes of yoga everyday.
Answering if India should do Phase II of Covid vaccine again, Vardhan said that Russian Sputnik-V Covid-19 vaccine still under consideration.
Answering a question by a citizen from Punjab, Heath Minister Harsh Vardhan said that no on can touch the dead body of a patient refusing 'rumours' that body parts of dead coronavirus patients are being sold.
Government has taken loans. Support to states is being done through budgetary allocations. Govt not dependent on loans for covid emergency response: Harsh Vardhan
Addressing the questions of social media users, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that although Vitamin C boosts the immunity, it is always important to contact a doctor.
Watch the live session of Harsh Vardhan's weekly address here
Govt's utmost priority how to make vaccine available for citizen: Vardhan
Harsh Vardhan urges for mass movement towards safe hands, respiratory hygiene, social distancing
We destroyed bio-diversity over the past few decades... The pandemic has given the warning to stop destructing nature. Gandhi's cleanliness appeal has become more and more relevant," Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
Oxford University coronavirus vaccine could be rolled out within 6 months
There is growing hope that a vaccine against coronavirus may be given the green light by health regulators by the end of this year to be rolled out for a vaccination programme in six months’ time or even less, according to a UK media report.
Don’t pin hopes on a Covid-19 vaccine. It may be a two-year wait
An effectivevaccinemay be the only real protection against Covid-19 as things stand, but don’t pin your hopes on getting it soon. As India’s death toll from Covid crosses one lakh, insights from the scientific community and government officials suggest it could take up to two years from now to get the much-awaited shot.
Good afternoon readers, welcome to the live coverage of Dr Harsh Vardhan's weekly address Sunday Samvaad
The fourth edition of the Union Minister's weekly address Sunday Samvaad is scheduled to begin at 1 pm.