Frontline workers receive Covid-19 vaccine shots at Barasat Hospital in North 24 Parganas. (Express Photo: Shashi Ghosh)COVID-19 Vaccination India Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday launched India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive, the world’s largest inoculation exercise against the novel coronavirus. In a virtual address, an emotional PM Modi paid tribute to scientists and healthcare workers, who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic.
“Amid the crisis and the atmosphere of despair, someone was transmitting hope by putting his life on the line to save us,” PM Modi said. He added that safety protocol, including social distancing and wearing masks, must remain in place.
India will administer shots to three crore frontline workers in phase one. There are 3,006 session sites across the country, where 100 beneficiaries each will be given either of India’s two indigenous vaccines, Covaxin or Covishield. Every beneficiary will need to receive two doses of the same vaccine, 28 days apart.
Since the pandemic hit India in early 2020, over one crore and 5.27 lakh people have been infected with the disease, while close to 1.52 lakh have died. At present, Kerala and Maharashtra are reporting the highest number of daily cases.
India is drawing from its experiences of its Universal Immunisation Programme and the booth strategy during elections to conduct the massive drive. The Centre has disbursed Rs 480 crore to states for the operational cost of the exercise. Aadhaar and the Co-WIN platform will be used extensively to identify and monitor beneficiaries. If all goes to plan, 30 crore people may be vaccinated against the contagion by July end.
The government has created a dedicated 24X7 helpline number — 1075 — to address queries related to the vaccine rollout and the Co-WIN software.
At the LNJP Hospital in New Delhi Friday, ahead of the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination drive across the country. (Express Photo: Praveen Khanna)
Dr. Mridul Das, 30, MOIC at Gandhigram Primary Health Centre, was administered the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Gandhigram Primary Health Centre in Tripura's West District. Speaking to reporters, the 30-year-old said after getting his that he didn't have any immediate allergic reaction. He said the vaccine administration process involved screening his credentials, he was informed about precautionary measures after getting the vaccine shot and an observation period of 30 minutes. "Covid-19 is a serious pandemic. The government has taken initiatives after a lot of trials. We need to trust the science and take the vaccine. It is perfectly safe," he said.
Tripura is vaccinating 1,399 people in 17 locations spread across eight districts of the state on Saturday, including 250 people getting their Covid shot in three centres of West Tripura district. While Dr. Das was the first vaccine recipient in Tripura, Dr. Ankur Roy, a dental surgeon and immunization officer at the PHC, said he was very excited to receive the dose since he was informed about his selection in beneficiary list few days back. "I have received my COVID shot today and have experienced no adverse or allergic reaction till now. I recommend everyone to take this safe vaccine", the doctor said.
Vaccination has begun at 65 centres across Assam, including seven medical colleges and 24 district hospitals. The state has received 2.21 lakh vaccines (2 lakh doses of Covidshield and 20,000 doses of Covaxin). Nearly 1.9 lakh Covid-19 workers will be covered in the first phase, followed by one lakh frontline workers in the second stage.
Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, 16,000 health workers will be vaccinated in the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination. The state government has identified 10 sites for launching the Covid-19 vaccination drive.
The Covid-19 vaccination drive has kicked off at the Bengaluru Medical College in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and state Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar. Karnataka has set up 243 centres to administer vaccines to its frontline workers. "Covishield vaccines would be administered at 237 centres and the Covaxin shots would be given at the remaining six places today," Sudhakar said.
A total 7,17,439 health workers across the state will be vaccinated in the first phase; 24,300 people will get the shot on Day 1. "We have 8,14,500 doses of the vaccines and the initial phase is expected to completed within a week," Sudhakar said. "Covaxin doses have been dispatched to six centres – in Bellary, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Chamarajanagar and Davangere."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched India's Covid-19 vaccine drive. In a virtual address, the PM got emotional as he paid tribute to India's frontline workers and scientists. "This disease kept people away from their families. The mothers cried for their children and had to stay away. People could not meet their elderly admitted at hospitals. We could not bid adieu to those with proper rituals who died," he said, looking back at 2020. Here are his top quotes
A sanitation worker becomes the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is also present.
PM Modi says, "In the fight against coronavirus, we have set an example for the world at many steps. When countries left their citizens, stuck in China amidst this pandemic, on their own, India stepped up and evacuated not only Indians but also people of other nations under Vande Bharat mission."
PM Narendra Modi gets emotional while talking about the hardships faced by healthcare and frontline workers during the pandemic.
PM Modi further says that India's vaccines enjoy global credibility because of their track record. "Scientists gave nod to two made-in-India vaccines after being sure of their effects, don't pay heed to rumours, propaganda. Our vaccination programme driven by humanitarian concerns, those exposed to maximum risk get priority."
PM Modi says, "Today when we take a look at the last year, we realise that we have learnt a lot as a person, a family and as a nation."
"This disease kept people away from their families. The mothers cried for their children and had to stay away. People could not meet their elderly admitted at hospitals. We could not bid adieu to those with proper rituals who died due to corona," he adds.
PM Modi, 'Such a vaccination drive at such a massive scale was never conducted in history. There are over 100 countries having less than 3 crore population and India is administering vaccination to 3 crore people in the first phase only. In the second phase, we've to take this number to 30 crores.'
PM Modi says, "I want to remind people of the country that two doses of the Corona vaccine are very important. Experts have said that there should be a gap of one month between both vaccinations."
However, the Prime Minister requests people to follow Covid-19 guidelines even after taking the first dose of vaccine. "I request you not to make the mistake of taking off the mask and not maintaining social distancing after getting the first dose because immunity develops after the second dose."
PM Modi says, "Normally, it takes many years to make a vaccine but in such a short span of time, not one, but two 'Made in India' vaccines are ready. Meanwhile, the work on other vaccines is progressing at a fast pace."
After launching the vaccination drive, PM Modi says, "Everyone was asking as to when the vaccine will be available. It is available now. I congratulate all the countrymen on this occasion."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive.
In Delhi, Physiotherapists Dr Anil Dassi and Dr Archana Khazanchi arrive at Max Saket to receive the vaccine. "We are positive this will work, and hopefully start the end of this pandemic. There maybe slight side effects but there is nothing to worry about," Dr Dassi says. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, 72-year-old General Surgeon Dr Anil Pinto is at Holy Family Hospital in Bandra West.
Our photojournalists Partha Paul and Shashi Ghosh capture the scene in West Bengal, where last minute preparations are underway before the rollout of the vaccines.
Kerala has set up 133 vaccination centres across the state, where 13,300 health workers will receive shots today. Here are pictures from a vaccination centre at the Ernakulam General Hospital. Staff here will communicate with PM Narendra Modi after the inauguration. - Inputs from Vishnu Varma
Here are some pictures from Delhi's Saket Max Hospital, where the vaccine drive will begin today. Dr Rana AK Singh, Medical Superintendent of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, says he will take the Covaxin vaccine today.