Releasing the book, the Finance Minister said that the book has come at an appropriate time when India is celebrating “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. “In the recent years, ‘Team-India’ under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji has taken the country to new heights
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday internationally launched the book entitled “India’s vaccine growth story- from cowpox to vaccine maitry”. The book is written by Dr Sajjan Singh Yadav, who is currently posted as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
The book traces India’s centuries long journey as the torchbearer of the world in vaccine development and inoculations. It has numerous stories of birthing of various vaccines too. The book also discusses development of vaccines by India at a fast pace to counter the COVID-19 pandemic and launch of the world’s biggest vaccination drive by our country. Other topical issues like vaccine diplomacy, vaccine economy, vaccine hesitance and vaccine leadership have also been eloquently covered in the book with interesting stories and anecdotes.
Releasing the book, the Finance Minister said that the book has come at an appropriate time when India is celebrating “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. “In the recent years, ‘Team-India’ under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji has taken the country to new heights. The world is seeing a new and rising India, leading the globe in many areas. Vaccines are definitely one such sector where India has clearly established its supreemacy”, she said.
India produces 62 per cent of the world’s vaccine doses which has greatly contributed to the widespread global availability of affordable, high-quality vaccines. Made in India vaccines save millions of lives every year. “As infectious diseases have a huge impact on productivity and economy, vaccines manufactured by India make a significant contribution in economic growth and development across the world”, the Finance Minister said.
Union Minister recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire world was looking at India for providing the protective shield of vaccines. “Under the charismatic leadership of our Prime Minister and his “whole government” approach, the untiring efforts of our scientists, entrepreneurs and health experts and liberal financial support, we lived up to the global expectations and have provided a bouquet of vaccines. Not only we have administered more than 200 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine, but in the spirit of “Vasudhav Kutumbkum,” and “Sarve Santu Niramaya” we have provided this “Sanjeevani booti” to more than 100 countries.
The Finance Minister complemented Dr Yadav, who is a Doctorate in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for coming up with a very enriching treatise.
