Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that 18-19 potential vaccines against novel coronavirus were in different stages of clinical trials, adding that vaccination of around 270 million Indians above the age of 50 will begin three weeks from now.

"Some are in Phase I, some in Phase II, and a few approaching Phase III of the clinical trials. We are elated to have a huge portfolio in the near future," he said at a press conference in New Delhi.  The minister said that the Department of Biotechnology had been provided a budget of Rs 900 crore for the development of potential vaccines against Covid-19.

"The money has been kept aside for the department for use in research and development of potential vaccine candidates against the viral disease," he added.

Vardhan also said that the Modi government will begin vaccination drive for around 270 million Indians above the age of 50 three weeks from now.

"Three weeks from now, the government will start giving doses of coronavirus vaccines to 270 million persons above the age of 50," he said.

An expert group on vaccination will discuss how to pay for the doses for those above 50, he added.

The vaccination for frontline workers began earlier this month.

On the private healthcare sector's role in the vaccination process, he said that such facilities and workers were already a part of the drive.

"During emergency use authorisations (EUA), it is the government's responsibility to keep things under control; open market sales are not part of the EUA," he added.

Meanwhile, the minister reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the country. He said that no new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 188 districts of the country in the past seven days.

Vardhan emphasised the importance of social distance and appropriate healthcare behaviour amid the pandemic despite the falling numbers of corona cases in the country.

"It is crucial that people continue to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour which I had called a social vaccine, along with the real vaccine," he quipped.

The Indian government has prioritised vaccination of 30 crore Indians, dividing them into three categories -- 10 million healthcare workers, 20 million frontline workers, and 270 million general populace above the age of 50.

On January 3, the Drugs Controller General of India had approved Covishield vaccine developed by Pune-based Serum Institute of India and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for emergency use authorisation in the country. Both vaccines have been provided in the nationwide immunisation drive, that was kicked off on January 16. Till Sunday, more than 8 million (82,85,295) doses of vaccines had been administered across India.

(IANS)