Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced Rs.35,000 crore for the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines in the Union Budget for the coming year.

Covaxin manufacturer Bharat Biotech described as ''far-reaching'' initiative the allocation of Rs 35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccination in the Union Budget and said it would help the country become free of the viral disease.

Further, Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd said the budget was growth-oriented with a lot of positive interventions and with ''something in it for everyone''.

Welcoming the proposal for Rs 35,000 crore outlay forCOVID-19 vaccines, city-based Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Krishna Ella said ''Its a great step ahead, and far-reaching budget announcement., providing Rs 35,000crore for COVID-19 vaccination in 2021-22.'' The Finance Minister's commitment providing more funds in order to contain the coronavirus pandemic and provide an effective, smooth path for the vaccination scheme ''will help contain, and lead our nation towards accomplishing a COVID-19disease free Bharat,'' he said in a statement here.

The indigenous COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin and Oxford's Covishield are being produced in the country and used during the ongoing inoculation drive.

The Rs 64,180 crore spending plan for healthcare over the next six years to be spent on primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, in addition to the National Health Mission was also a welcome move, he said.

This would strengthen public health services as 17,000rural and 11,000 urban health and wellness centres and integrated public health labs would be set up in each district, Ella said.

The government focus, on three areas – preventive health, curative health and well-being, was also very reassuring, he said.

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