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PMO-constituted Vaccine Task Force (VTF) to lay down the principles for emergency use authorisation and usage of anti-coronavirus vaccines pending completion of Phase 3 clinical trial
About Vaccine Task Force
It is an expert committee formed by the Union government to oversee all aspects of its Covid-19 vaccine plan, from identification of the vaccine to buying to financing the purchase to distribution and administration
Composition of the task force
The panel is led by Niti Aayog’s Dr VK Paul and co-chaired by health secretary Rajesh Bhushan
The high-level panel also includes AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria, representatives of the ministries of external affairs, biotechnology, information technology, the Director General of Health services, India’s Aids Research Institute, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and also representatives from states.
Role and functions of the task force
The task force will focus on picking out the vaccines that India can use, how they should be procured—whether foreign agencies should be involved or whether state governments will be allowed to procure under the direct supervision of the central government, plan a budget and prepare a strategy on inventory management, distribution, and administration
