Mumbai, Jul 3 (PTI) Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said he was hopeful about the coronavirus vaccine being developed by the Indian Council ofMedical Research (ICMR) andBharat Biotech International Ltd.

He spoke to ICMR director general Balram Bhargava about the vaccine, Tope said in a statement here.

Also Read | Bengaluru: COVID-19 Patient Dies on Road After Awaiting Ambulance For 4 Hours, BBMP Initiates Probe.

"I was toldclinical trials of the vaccine will be carried out at 13 or 14 hospitals by July 7. Pre-clinical and clinical trials are expected to be completed by August 15," he said.

"I am hopeful about the first India-made vaccine for coronavirus (becoming successful)," he said.

Also Read | Pulse Oximeter Necessary For Every COVID-19 Patient in Home Isolation, Says Delhi Govt: Live News Breaking & Coronavirus Updates on July 3, 2020.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)