New Delhi: Head of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body coordinating the national response to Covid-19, Balram Bhargava, has said working together was the most abiding lesson from the fight against the pandemic as prior to the outbreak “two scientists wouldn’t work together.”
“The most important thing that we have learnt during the pandemic in India and from the point of view of our organisation I think is working together. Earlier, two scientists would not work together, two laboratories would not work together, two institutions would not work together; two organisations would not work together, two ministries would not work together. That has changed now,” Bhargava said at the launch of his book “Going Viral: The inside Story of Covaxin”. The book documents the Indian journey to the production of indigenous Covid vaccine and the unique ICMR-Bharat Biotech public-private partnership that developed the shot.
“Secondly, we have learnt the need for speed. We had to work with clear cut deadlines and timelines so that we could achieve our targets,” Bhargava said.
14,348 fresh cases
TOTAL DEATHS 4,57,191
ACTIVE CASES 1,61,334
805 deaths in 24 hours
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