Covid vaccination drive at Mumbai's Cooper Hospital. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)COVID-19 Vaccination India Live Updates: As many as 1.91 lakh people were inoculated across the country on day 1 of the world’s largest immunisation exercise against the coronavirus. Calling it a success, the Union Health Ministry said “no case of post-vaccination hospitalisation has been reported so far”, indicating there was no known incident of severe adverse reaction.
India on Sunday reported 15,144 new Covid-19 cases and 181 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said. The overall case tally touched 1,05,57,985, with 2,08,826 active cases and 1,52,274 deaths.
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.
On the break-up of Covishield and Covaxin, the Ministry data showed that while the first vaccine, developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by Pune’s Serum Institute, had been supplied to all states and Union territories, the indigenously developed Covaxin was administered in “clinical trial mode” in 12 states, including the national capital. Each session site could administer only one of the two vaccines.
During the vaccination drive, Maharashtra recorded 14 cases of adverse events, however, none of them were fatal. State officials currently studying them.
Since the pandemic hit India in early 2020, over one crore and 5.42 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.
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)
On the second day of the anti-coronavirus vaccination drive, the Union Health Ministry Sunday said a total of 2,24,301 beneficiaries have been inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine so far. It also said that 447 cases of adverse events had been recorded following the immunisation.
Addressing a press briefing, the ministry’s Additional Secretary Manohar Agnani told reporters that out of the 447 adverse events, only three required hospitalisation.
“Today being Sunday, only six states conducted vaccination drive and in 553 sessions, a total of 17,072 beneficiaries were vaccinated,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. READ MORE
There has been no case of adverse reaction or side-effects of COVID-19 vaccine in Maharashtra so far, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday, a day after the inoculation drive was undertaken across the country. Talking to PTI, Tope also expressed confidence that "everything will be safe".
As many as 18,425 beneficiaries, or 65 per cent of the target for the first day, were given vaccine shot across the state on Saturday, a health department official earlier said. "There has absolutely been no report of any adverse reaction or side-effects of the vaccine following the drive on Saturday. Everything was safe, it will be safe," Tope said. The Maharashtra government on Saturday evening announced suspension of the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state till Monday owing to problems in the Co-WIN app.
The app has been created by the Centre for managing registration for the inoculation.
The Union Health Ministry stated that 447 cases of AEFI (Adverse event following immunization) were reported on 16th and 17th January and three required hospitalisation.
Lebanon finalised a deal with Pfizer on Sunday for 2.1 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine amid surge in infections that has overwhelmed the country's health care system.
The doses are to arrive in Lebanon starting early February, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
The government's statement said the Pfizer vaccines will be complemented with another 2.7 million doses from the U.N.-led programme to provide for countries in need. It gave no date for when those doses are expected to arrive but said the agreement was signed in October.
Austria is extending its lockdown until February 7 in an attempt to bring down still-high infection figures, as authorities worry about the possible impact of more infectious variants of the coronavirus. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Sunday that distancing rules will be toughened, with people asked to stay 2 meters apart instead of 1 meter. They will also be told to wear full protective masks in public transport and shops, rather than just fabric face coverings. Austria's current lockdown, its third, started on December 26 and had been due to end on January 24.
Kurz said Austria needs to get as close as it can to an infection level of 50 new cases per 100,000 residents over 7 days. The figure now stands at 131. He said the plan is to reopen shops. schools and other services such as hairdressers on February 8. But he said it wont be possible to reopen restaurants and hotels in February. (PTI)
People adopting a "wait and watch" approach, lack of communication and glitches in CoWin app are the major reasons why only 53 per cent people got the COVID-19 shots on the first day in Delhi, experts said on Sunday. In Delhi, 4,319 healthcare workers 53.3 per cent of those registered got the shots on Saturday, the first day of the world's largest vaccination drive against the pandemic.
"There is a little bit of apprehension (about the vaccine). Also, people in India adopt a 'wait and watch' approach in important matters, be it purchasing a new car or an appliance. People consider the experiences of others before taking a call," B L Sherwal, Medical Director of Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, said.
In his hospital, 45 people got the jabs on Saturday. "There is a need for creating more awareness and building confidence among people. No major vaccine-related side effects were reported on Saturday, which is going to encourage others to take the shots," he said.
An AIIMS security guard had developed an allergic reaction after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. He was kept under observation of doctors at the hospital, an official had said on Saturday. (PTI)
Senior Congress leader and former UP legislator Pradeep Mathur on Sunday said it would have been better had Prime Minister Narendra Modi taken the coronavirus vaccine shot on the first day of the inoculation drive, thereby injecting confidence among people.
"It would have been better had Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented an example like that of Joe Biden, the president-elect of the US, by getting himself vaccinated. By taking the COVID-19 vaccine shot, he would have injected confidence among people of the country. People are still feeling hesitant in getting themselves vaccinated," Mathur said here on Sunday. Sharpening his attack on the Centre over the farmers'' protest, Mathur said, "Even Lord Ram will not be able to save them. They have incurred the curse of farmers.”
He said the Modi government will have to bear the consequences of insensitivity towards farmers. “They have been speaking about doubling the income of farmers but now it seems they are acting at the behest of the capitalists," Mathur said.
Mizoram on Sunday reported eight new COVID-19 cases, taking the state's tally to 4,322, an official said. Of the eight cases, seven were reported from Aizawl district and one from Kolasib district, he said.
Six cases were confirmed at Zoram Medical College's RT-PCR laboratory and two were detected through Rapid Antigen Test from Aizawl and Kolasib district.
Mizoram now has 85 active COVID-19 cases, while 4,228 people have recovered from the virus and the coronavirus recovery rate in the state is 97.83 per cent, the official said. The CCOVID-19 death toll in Mizoram is nine so far. The state has tested 1,92,766 samples till date, of which 2.24 per cent was found positive for COVID-19.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday said some people did not turn up for coronavirus vaccination at the last moment, adding that the government cannot ask anyone to compulsorily take the jab. He also said that the number of vaccination centres in Delhi will be increased from 81 to 175 soon. In Delhi, a total of 4,319 healthcare workers - 53.3 per cent of those registered - got the vaccine shots on the first day of the COVID-19 vaccination drive on Saturday, the minister said.
Jain noted that a similar trend was observed across the country, adding that around 50 per cent of those registered got the jabs on the first day. "Some people decided not to turn up at the last moment. The vaccination programme is completely voluntary. We cannot ask anyone to compulsorily take the shot even if the person has registered for it," he said.
One "severe" and 51 "minor" cases of AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) were reported among health workers who were administered the coronavirus vaccine in Delhi on Saturday, according to official figures. An AIIMS security guard had developed an allergic reaction after receiving the vaccine. He was kept under observation of doctors, an official had said on Saturday.
Delhi registered 246 new coronavirus cases, the lowest in around eight months, and eight more deaths on Sunday, as the positivity rate dipped to 0.36 per cent, the Health Department said. The infection tally rose to 6,32,429 and the death toll mounted to 10,746, according to a health bulletin.
This is the 14th time that the daily count stood below the 500 mark in January and the eight consecutive day since January 10 when the figures have stood below the 400mark. The 246 new cases came out of the 67,463 tests, including 40,102 RT-PCR and 27,361 rapid antigen tests. The active cases dropped to 2,544 from 2,691 the previous day, while the positivity rate dropped to 0.36 per cent, the department said.
As many as 6,18,754 patients have recovered, been discharged or migrated so far.
Odishas COVID-19 tally on Sunday mounted to 3,33,310 after 183 more people tested positive for the virus, while a fresh fatality pushed the death toll to 1,900, a health department official said. Of the 183 new cases, 106 have been reported from different quarantine centres, while 77 detected during contact tracing.
Angul district recorded the highest number of 20 new cases, followed by Sambalpur (19) and Sundergarh (18). The Health and Family Welfare department expressed regret over the death of a 52-year-old male COVID-19 positive patient from Bhubaneswar, who was also suffering from diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and had undergone renal transplantation.
With this fatality, Odishas coronavirus death toll climbed to 1,900. Besides, 53 other COVID-19 positive patients have also died due to comorbidities, he said. Of the total 1,900 fatalities reported so far, Khurda district, of which the state capital Bhubaneswar is a part, accounted for 334 deaths followed by Ganjam (248), Sundergarh (171), Cuttack (140) and Puri (1,171).
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it will stop fining people for not wearing masks inside their private vehicles. However, those who don’t wear masks in public transport will be fined.
The share of India's active Covid-19 cases, which stand at 2,08,826, has fallen below 2 per cent of the total caseload for the first time, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday, PTI reported.
The ministry attributed the fall to a steady decline in daily cases.
"For the first time, India's share of active cases within the total positive cases has shrunk below 2 per cent (1.98 per cent)," the ministry said in a statement.
As India kickstarted the world's largest vaccination drive against coronavirus yesterday, actor Amitabh Bachchan Sunday said he is hoepful the country will become Covid-19 free, PTI reported.
Bachchan said people of India will eliminate coronavirus from the country like polio."It was a proud moment when we made India polio free; it shall be just as proud a moment when we make India COVID-19 free #LargestVaccineDrive @MoHFW_India @UNICEFIndia #largestVaccinationdrive JAI HIND," the actor tweeted.
The Covid-19 vaccination drive in West Bengal began on Saturday, with 15,707 health workers receiving their doses. Among the first to receive the vaccine were two Group-D employees of SSKM Hospital in Kolkata and Sagore Dutta Hospital in North 24 Parganas district.
According to officials, 20,700 workers were scheduled to be inoculated by the end of the day in 207 centres, but 25 per cent of those eligible did not turn up. Health officials said they were looking into why so many health workers were absent.
India on Sunday reported 15,144 new Covid-19 cases and 181 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said.
The overall case tally touched 1,05,57,985, with 2,08,826 active cases and 1,52,274 deaths. The Health Ministry data stated that active cases form 1.98 per cent of the total caseload.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolling out the vaccination drive against the pandemic that has caused 1,52,093 deaths and upended millions of lives in the country, experts — who have been spending hours ironing out creases ahead of the launch of the inoculation campaign — said they were ecstatic and relieved to execute the herculean task much ahead of time.
Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of AIIMS and a member of the Covid task force was among the first ones to take a shot of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin at AIIMS on Saturday. Calling the vaccination programme “a game changer”, he said, “Before this, we did not have any definite treatment strategy. We were giving a lot of drugs but we didn’t have a good antiviral drug. This is one strategy which is going towards finding an end to the pandemic. The vaccination programme is something which has happened early. When the discussions were going on, people were even thinking of March for getting the vaccine. People have worked extra hard, both in terms of the manufacturers, trials and rolling out the whole process because there was a huge upscaling that was required.”
Of the 28,500 health workers who had been listed to get the vaccine on the inaugural day, Maharashtra recorded a turnout of 64.3 per cent. Of the 18,328 people vaccinated in Maharashtra on Saturday, 10 recipients suffered mild reactions including nausea, vomiting, and anxiety.
Jharkhand, meanwhile, conducted the vaccination drive accross 48 sites among 3,200 health workers. The state has 1.5 lakh health care workers. It faced several challenges in preparing for the vaccination process. Read on to find out more about the Covid-19 immunisation exercise in states and UTs.
Covid-19 vaccination has been temporarily suspended till January 18 in Maharashtra due to technical issues with CoWIN App, the State Health Department has said.
Nearly a year after India reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, which has so far sickened more than a crore people and killed more than 1.5 lakh, India on Saturday kicked off the world’s largest immunisation exercise against Covid-19.
On Day 1, over 1.91 lakh beneficiaries from the three crore priority group comprising healthcare and frontline workers were given the first shots of Covid-19 vaccines as part of the first phase. No case of post-inoculation hospitalisation was reported, the Union Health Ministry said.
Stating that the vaccination drive was successfully conducted on the first day, Additional Secretary in the Union Health Ministry Manohar Agnani said a total of 16,755 personnel were involved in organising 3,351 vaccination sessions. The 11 states and union territories where both Covishield and Covaxin were administered were Assam (65 sessions), Bihar (301), Delhi (81), Haryana (77), Karnataka (242), Maharashtra (285), Odisha (161), Rajasthan (167) Tamil Nadu (160), Telangana (14) and Uttar Pradesh (317). Read full detail here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while monitoring the nationwide vaccination drive again Covid-19.
In the world's largest Covid-19 vaccination program, as many as 191,181 beneficiaries were vaccinated across the country today, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
Asha workers share their thoughts after taking Covid vaccine at District Hospital in Hyderabad's King Koti area. Vaccination drive was conducted at 144 centres in Telangana on Saturday with 30 people each slated to receive the shot there, the state health minister said.
Expressing her dissatisfaction over the "inadequate number of Covid-19 vaccines" supplied to West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said her government "strongly feels" that all people of the state should be inoculated free of cost.
The chief minister also said that her government was ready to bear the financial burden for providing the doses free of charge in the state, if need be.
According to a state government official, Bengal was supposed to receive over 10 lakh vaccines in the first phase, but have got 6.89 lakh doses so far.
The CM, while telephonically addressing all doctors, nurses, hospital support staff, students -- who were attending a virtual meet from the 207 centres where Saturday's inoculation process started -- said she "strongly felt that all people of West Bengal should get vaccines free of cost as early as possible", an official statement said. (PTI)
The first phase Covid-19 vaccination drive was held at ten centres across Manipur on Saturday, inoculating over 9,000 healthcare workers with Covishield vaccine.
The vaccination exercise started with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh officially launching the vaccination drive at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS). An attendant of JNIMS hospital was the first person to get vaccinated by Covishield.
With the first phase completed successfully, the health department in the second phase is going to inoculate other frontline workers. In the third and fourth phase, persons above 50 years of age and people below 50 years of age with co-morbidity will be vaccinated, the department said.
The CM urged the public to refrain from giving negative comments about the vaccine without valid scientific proof as it may create suspicion and hesitation in people’s mind. Such persons could be penalised under relevant acts, he warned.
Biren Singh also appreciated the hard work of researchers and scientists of the country for developing Covid vaccines on time.
(Input by Jimmy Leivon from Manipur)
As the Prime Minister’s speech, being broadcast live at the Government Girls Primary School in Gurgaon, came to an end Saturday morning, 47-year-old Radha Chaudhary, a sanitation worker at the Primary Health Centre in Wazirabad, got up from her seat in the crowd and walked to ‘Vaccination Officer –I’, who was seated outside one of the classrooms.
After showing her documentation and getting her details cross-checked in the list of beneficiaries, Chaudhary walked into a second classroom, where her details were uploaded on the Covid portal. Once this was done, she crossed a green portable curtain set up in the room and emerged moments later as the first person in Gurgaon to have been administered the coronavirus vaccine. More details here.
Covid-19 vaccination: No case of post-vaccination hospitalisation reported, says Health Ministry During the nationwide Covid-19 vaccine drive no case of post-vaccination hospitalisation was recorded, Union Health Ministry said during a press briefing. "Since it was the first day of vaccination, a few issues came up such as– delay in uploading beneficiary list at some session sites and healthcare workers vaccinated though not scheduled for today's session," it said.
The Union Health Ministry said that as many as 3,351 sessions were held on Day of 1 the vaccination. Both Covaxin and Covisheild were used.
As India began its nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19, as many as 1,65,714 people were vaccinated on Day 1, Union Health Ministry said. A total of 16,755 vaccinators were also involved in the process across India, it said.
As India began its nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19, Maharashtra recorded 14 cases of adverse events, none of them fatal, on Day 1 of the vaccination rollout in the state. State officials are currently studying the cases.
Out of the two vaccines approved for restricted emergency use — Serum Institute’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin — apprehensions have been expressed for the latter, as it is yet to complete its late-stage human trials and no efficacy data has been made public. More details here.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said he would get himself vaccinated for COVID-19 vaccine in the next phase as he rolled out the inoculation drive in Mohali.
Four healthcare workers, including three doctors, were administered the first dose of Covishield vaccine in the presence of the chief minister at civil hospital.
Amarinder Singh also gifted saplings to these five healthcare workers as a token of appreciation.
The chief minister said it was his desire to get vaccinated first but in accordance with the directives of the Government of India only healthcare workers could be covered in the first phase. (PTI)
As the coronavirus vaccine was launched on Saturday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav sought to know from the government how the drive will be conducted and when the poor will get the shot free of cost.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said he has faith in doctors of the country but not the government.
He also suggested that the BJP people should first line up in queues and get themselves vaccinated as the party conducts all programmes in a grand manner. "After one year, when the SP will come to power, we will ensure free vaccine for all," he said while asking from the government when the poor will get free vaccines. (PTI)
During the vaccination drive, Maharashtra recorded 14 cases of adverse events, however, none of them were fatal. State officials are studying them.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday urged people not to believe in rumours and listen to experts who say that vaccines against coronavirus are safe.
Kejriwal who visited the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital in Delhi, also interacted with some health workers who received the shot and lauded their contribution in fighting the pandemic.
"I have interacted with those vaccinated. No one has any problem. All are happy that they will get rid of coronavirus," the chief minister was quoted saying by PTI.
"I want to say to all not to pay attention to rumours and misinformation. The experts say vaccines are safe and there is no need to worry," he added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Saturday asked the people to remain alert for rumours regarding Covid-19 vaccines and wait for their turn to get themselves vaccinated.
Adityanath took a round of the Balrampur Hospital Lucknow where he met the health workers who were administered vaccines.
"Today is a day of immense happiness and excitement. India is the first country which has launched two vaccines," the chief minister was quoted as saying by PTI.
"I have just now met the health workers who have got vaccinated and they are all fine," he told the media.
RML medical superintendent Dr AK Rana being administered the Covid-19 vaccine. Earlier today, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi requested the medical superintendent to vaccinate them with Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield.
In the backdrop of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in the country, senior Congress leader Manish Tewari raised questions over the emergency use approval given to the indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin and alleged that it was "sans due process".
In a Tweet, Tewari said: "As vaccine rollout begins, it is all a bit puzzling India has no policy framework for authorising emergency use. Yet, two vaccines have been approved for restricted use in emergency situation."
Hitting back, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the Congress party and Tewari are "only are only passionate about spreading distrust & rumours".
"Open your eyes, sharing photos of eminent Doctors & Govt functionaries getting inoculated," Vardhan said.
Bharat Biotech, which has received a government purchase order for supply of 55 lakh doses of Covaxin, a COVID-19 vaccine, said the company will pay compensation to recipients in case of any serious adverse effects experienced after receiving the antidote. More details here.
The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here on Saturday requested the medical superintendent to vaccinate them with Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield.
In a letter to the medical superintendent, the association said the resident doctors were "a bit apprehensive" about Covaxin and might not participate in the immunisation drive in large numbers thus defeating the purpose of the exercise which began in the country on Saturday.
"We have come to know that the COVID-19 vaccination drive is being conducted by the hospital today. Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech is being preferred in our hospital over Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute.
"The residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of vaccination. We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield which has completed all stages of trial before its roll-out," the letter stated. (PTI)
As the country began administering vaccines against Covid-19 on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it represents the determination of a self-reliant India and is an important milestone in the fight against the pandemic.
In a series of tweets, Shah complimented scientists and said that India is one of the few countries which have achieved success to end the biggest crisis facing humanity.
He said the 'New India' led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an India that transforms disasters into opportunities and challenges into achievements.
"This 'Made in India' vaccine represents the determination of self-reliant India. On this historic day, I bow to all our Corona warriors," he said in tweets in Hindi.
Visuals from the Governemnt Medical College (GMC) Baramulla in Kashmir.
A vaccine only provides the antigenic stimulus for the body to react. How capably the body reacts is considerably influenced by the nutritional status and will vary among individuals, writes K Srinath Reddy, a cardiologist and epidemiologist, and President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and author of 'Make Health in India: Reaching a Billion Plus'. Read his opinion column here
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was present at Delhi's AIIMS this morning for the rollout, says the vaccines are 'sanjivani' in the fight against Covid-19. "These vaccines are 'sanjivani' in our fight against this pandemic. We have won the battles against polio and small pox. Now, we have reached the decisive phase of winning the war against coronavirus," he is quoted as saying by PTI.
Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, who is present at a vaccination centre in Mumbai, says: "It is a revolutionary step. I salute health workers, who have worked hard. Everyone was worried what would happen in the pandemic without a vaccine... Initially, people weren't even able to get beds... Even after being vaccinated you have to wear mask."
Dr M Siddharth, Dean of Dental Department in Sharda University, one of the first to get vaccinated in Gautam Buddh Nagar, says: "As a healthcare worker and having been on the frontlines, it is my responsibility to volunteer for the vaccine. I urge everyone to get the vaccine, since we have to build herd immunity in the country. I was administered the first dosage today and will be getting the second dose on February 15. It was a very smooth process and I feel absolutely fine." - Input from Amil Bhatnagar
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh launched the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the state at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal. Advisor to the CM, Dr S Rajan, Manipur Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar, and health officials attended the launch. As many as 8,476 beneficiaries will be vaccinated with Covishiled in 10 centres across the state An attendant of JNIMS was the first person vaccinated. -- Input from Jimmy Leivon
Over 4,000 healthcare workers across 139 facilities in Telangana took their first Covid-19 vaccines Saturday. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender were present at Gandhi General Hospital, the state's nodal centre for Covid-19 treqtment, in Hyderabad. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was present at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences.
Dr G Sreenivasa Rao, director of public health, has informed that 3.84 lakh vaccine doses have reached the state so far. For Saturday, over 50,000 doses were moved to 139 facilities, including 13 in Hyderabad. As of date, 3.15 lakh healthcare workers have registered themselves as beneficiaries on CoWin App. -- Input and photos by Rahul V Pisharody
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.