New Delhi: The world, which has been fighting against the Corona virus for a year, is going to get relief soon. Many countries of the world, including India are working on corona Vaccine and many experts claim that the vaccine may become available early next year to people in India. Modi government has also stepped up preparations for the delivery of the vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the offer of his counterpart in Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, for setting up of a vaccine transportation plant in Gujarat to ensure last mile drug delivery to villages all over the country.
According to official sources based in Delhi and Ahmedabad, Luxembourg firm B Medical Systems is sending a high-level team to Gujarat next week to set up a vaccine cold chain including solar vaccine refrigerators, freezers and transport boxes. As the setting up of a full-fledged plant will require nearly two years, the company has decided to start by getting only the refrigeration boxes from Luxembourg. The refrigerated transport boxes will be able to deliver vaccine between four degrees Celsius to 20 below zero.
While external affairs minister S Jaishankar is personally monitoring the Luxembourg proposal, Santosh Jha, India’s ambassador to the European Union, virtually met CEO and deputy CEO of the company on November 20 to finalise the arrangements with Gujarat.
While the refrigerated boxes, powered by solar, kerosene, gas and electricity, are expected to be ready for delivery by March 2021, the B Medical Systems company will set up a full-fledged plant in Gujarat in phase II for not only supplying to Indian requirement but also exporting it to other countries.
Official sources said the proposal was made by Bettel to PM Modi during the first bilateral summit on November 19. Given the concerns over last-mile delivery of vaccines in India, PM Modi immediately grabbed at the opportunity and the proposal was pushed at both ends with the company establishing contact with Gujarat government.