PM Narendra Modi appeals for social distancing, self-restraint during festival season

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed for social distancing and self-restraint, while chairing a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation. During the meeting he cautioned against complacency and called for keeping up efforts to contain pandemic. He also noted the steady decline in daily cases and growth rates. The prime minister appealed for social distancing and self-restraint during the upcoming festival season. 

Following the meeting, the prime minister office confirmed that three vaccines are in advanced stages of development in India, out of which 2 are in Phase II, one is in Phase-III. It added that two pan-India studies on COVID-19 virus genome suggest virus is genetically stable, no major mutation in it. 

Meanwhile, Tthe Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted approval to Dr Reddy`s, a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in India, to conduct phase 2 and 3 clinical human trials of the Sputnik V, a Covid-19 vaccine made by Russia.

On September 16, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and Dr Reddy`s Laboratories Limited had agreed to cooperate on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in India.

Sputnik V, an adenovirus vector-based vaccine, was developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, along with the Russian Direct Investment Fund and registered on August 11.

Co-chairman and Managing Director of Dr Reddy`s Laboratories G.V. Prasad in a statement said "This is a significant development that allows us to commence the clinical trials in India and we are committed to bringing in a safe and efficacious vaccine to combat the pandemic."

"On regulatory approval in India, RDIF shall supply to Dr Reddy`s 100 million doses of the vaccine. The Sputnik V vaccine, which is based on well-studied human adenoviral vector platform with proven safety, is undergoing clinical trials for the coronavirus pandemic," a statement from the Russian fund had earlier stated.