About 18-19 vaccine candidates against COVID-19 are in the pipeline and in different clinical trial stages, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.
Addressing the media, Mr Vardhan said that in the next 2-3 weeks, vaccinations against COVID-19 will be started for people above 50 years of age.
"About 18-20 vaccine candidates against COVID-19 are in the pipeline and are in preclinical, clinical and advanced stages," Mr Vardhan said. He further said that India will be supplying vaccines to 20-25 other countries.
Dispelling rumours surrounding the vaccines, Mr Vardhan said the vaccines in the public domain are safe and effective.
He said no new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in 188 districts of the country in the last 7 days, while no new cases have been reported in 21 districts in 21 days.
India's tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,09,16,589 with 11,649 new infections being reported in a day, while the daily deaths were recorded below 100 for the ninth time this month, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.
The death count increased to 1,55,732 with 90 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, Disha Ravi -- the 22-year-old activist arrested in the Toolkit case -- and two other wanted activists, held a Zoom meeting before the Republic Day to plan a social media buzz on the tractor rally, the Delhi Police said today. Criticised heavily by celebrities and opposition parties over Disha Ravi's arrest, the police met the media this afternoon regarding the case, filed after the Toolkit was shared by Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg and helped draw global attention to the farmers' protest.