I never said COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by January: K Sudhakar

After several news reports stated that Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar claimed that India and specifically Karnataka would have a COVID-19 vaccine by January, K Sudhakar has denounced the alleged statements made by him.

Bengaluru: Many news reports claimed that Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar stated that India and specifically Karnataka would have a COVID-19 vaccine by January or early next year.

However, K Sudhakar has denounced the alleged statements made by him and clarified to Deccan Herald that he never stated when the vaccine will be out.

Sudhakar stated "I never said the vaccine will come in January as many have reported. Nobody can predict that. They (University of Oxford-AstraZeneca) have completed phase 1 of the trial. Phase 2 and 3 of the trial are underway".

The confusion was caused after Sudhakar's office issued a release saying the vaccine will be available in early 2021 and with another reference to in the beginning of 2021 itself though the minister himself did not make such an announcement at the briefing.

The indications in the release were interpreted by many as January. The minister, however, distanced himself from the release.

Meanwhile, Karnataka on October 28, reported 3,146 fresh COVID-19 infections and 55 deaths, taking the total tally and cumulative fatalities to 8,12,784 and 11,046.