12-18 months time span may take to develop COVID-19 vaccine: KTR

Industries and IT Minister KT Rama Rao said that it will take 12 to 18 months for a vaccine to be developed for the Covid-19 infection.

Speaking at a webinar on ‘Rebuilding and rebooting Telangana’s economy post Covid-19’, organised by industry body Ficci, Rao said, “we have to keep ourselves safe for at least one year or till the vaccines are ready. Four companies from Hyderabad — Bharat Biotech, Indian Immunologicals,



Biological E and Sanofi (Shanta Biotech) — are working on vaccines. I believe it will take 12 to 18 months for the vaccines to be developed. We have to be cautious and ensure economic activity is not halted often.”

Rao said Covid-19 testing is being done by the government alone to ensure people are not subjected to fear psychosis. He said that Telangana was adhering to ICMR and WHO guidelines with respect to testing numbers and procedures.