COVID-19 vaccine likely by August 30, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Assam finance and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that a COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available in the market by August 30 next.

Addressing media personnel, the minister, who has been at the forefront of the state's fight against the viral disease, Sarma said that the people of the state should slug it out for 2 more months at the end of which, they would be availed the option of vaccinating themselves against the respiratory illness that has already claimed over 5 lakh lives worldwide.

The Minister also hinted that the troubles of the COVID-19 would be at an end once the vaccine, research to develop which has been long in the works by the world medical fraternity, is available in the market. At the same time, he urged the citizenry to maintain their safety and abide by the rules and regulations prescribed by the health ministry (such as wearing masks, social distancing, etc).

This announcement by the health minister has come days after he declared that a team of scientists at the Regional Medical Research Centre, NE region (RMRC) in Lahowal, Dibrugarh, has finally been successful in isolating the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus. Sarma said that the RMRC in Lahowal has been able to separate the strain of the COVID-19 virus.

"NIV Pune was able to separate the strain of coronavirus and on that basis, the development of a vaccine is in the works. Similarly, RMRC Lahowal has separated the strain which has opened up avenues to conduct many studies that will be specific to Assam.

The state has meanwhile registered 9,434 COVID-19 positive cases, out of which 3,311 cases are active. So far, 14 people in the state have succumbed to death due to complications related to the virus. 

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