India's vaccination programme has been science-born, science-driven, science-based: PM Modi

On October 21, India achieved the target of administering one billion vaccine doses.

"Today many people are comparing India's vaccination program with other countries of the world. The speed with which India crossed the 100 crore mark is also being appreciated. But, in this analysis, one thing is often missed that where we have started this," PM said in his address to the nation.

He said foreign countries had decades of expertise in researching vaccines. "India mostly depended on vaccines made by these countries. When the biggest pandemic of 100 years came, questions started being raised. Will India be able to fight this global pandemic? From where will India get the money to buy so many vaccines from other countries? When will India get the vaccine? Will the people of India get the vaccine or not? Will India be able to vaccinate enough people to stop the pandemic from spreading? There were various questions, but today this 100 crore vaccine dose is answering every question," he said.

He said fears were also being expressed that it would be very difficult to fight this pandemic in a democracy like India. "It was also being said for India, for the people of India that how will so much restraint, so much discipline work here? But for us, democracy means 'Saath to all'. The country started the campaign of 'Vaccine-Free Vaccine for Everyone," he said.

"Poor-rich, village-city, far-away, the country has only one mantra that if the disease does not discriminate, then there cannot be any discrimination in the vaccine. So it was ensured that the VIP culture does not dominate the vaccination campaign. India's entire vaccination program is born in the womb of science, has grown on scientific grounds, and has reached all four directions through scientific methods," he added.

PM said that it is a matter of pride the entire vaccination program of India has been `science-Born, science-Driven, and science-based'.

He said experts from home and abroad are very positive about India's economy. Today not only record investment is coming in Indian companies but new employment opportunities are also being created for the youth.

"With record investment in start-ups, record start-ups, unicorns are being made I will tell you again that we should insist on buying every little thing, which is Made in India, which Indian sweats hard to make. And this will be possible only with the efforts of everyone. Just like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a mass movement, in the same way, buying things made in India, buying things made by Indians, being Vocal for Local, we have to put it into practice. The country knows how to set big goals and achieve them," said PM.