The race for a vaccine to beat the novel coronavirus is on, not just in India, but in the entire world. While first US citizens could receive Covid-19 vaccine shot by December 11-12, in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold virtual meetings with chief ministers and other representatives of states nd UTs on Tuesday to discuss the vaccine distribution strategy, reports suggested.

In another development, Niti Aayog member Vinod Paul said on Saturday that India may grant emergency use authorisation of Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) if AstraZeneca gets such approval from the UK government. Paul also said that if the clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine in India go as per the script, phase III trials should be over by January-February 2021.

Meanwhile, leaders of the 20 biggest economies vowed on Sunday to spare no effort to supply Covid-19 drugs, tests and vaccines affordably and fairly to “all people”, reflecting worries that the pandemic could deepen divisions between the world’s rich and poor.

PM Modi is expected to hold the two back to back meetings — one with eight states that have the highest caseload and another with states and UTs to discuss the vaccine distribution strategy, sources confirmed to news agency PTI.