NEW DELHI: The immunisation programme against Covid-19 kicked off in India on Saturday. Over 300 million people are expected to be covered under the world's largest immunisation programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus via video conferencing on Saturday morning.
Thousands of health workers and other frontline workers are expected to be inoculated on the first day of the immunisation program.
Here is a look at the top developments from the day.
- Decisive victory for the country: PM Narendra Modi
Modi said these vaccines will ensure a "decisive victory" for the country over the coronavirus pandemic, but asked countrymen to continue wearing masks and maintain social distancing even after receiving the jabs.
"I want to remind people of the country that two doses of the Corona vaccine are very important. Don't commit the mistake that you take one dose and forget the second one. As experts have been saying, there will be a gap of about one month between the two doses," Modi said.
He asked people not to let their guard down even after taking the vaccine as only two weeks after taking the second dose, human body will develop necessary immunity against the virus.
During his speech, the prime minister also turned emotional as he spoke of the disruption the pandemic caused to people's lives, isolating victims of the coronavirus and denying the dead traditional last rites.
- Covid-19 vaccination begins in West Bengal; great day for humankind, says first recipient
Bipasha Seth is the first person who got inoculated in the state, the hospital authorities said. "It's a great day for humankind. I feel elated to get the first dose," said Seth. West Bengal's Minister of State for Labour Nirmal Maji also received the Covishield vaccine at the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, the officials said.
- Vice President, Union ministers laud launch of the coronavirus vaccination drive
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu described the launch of the anti-coronavirus immunisation drive as a "red-letter day" for the people of India and lauded scientists for developing the vaccines in a record time. Union ministers, including Amit Shah, extolled the rollout of the inoculation programme. The home minister said the made-in-India vaccines represent the determination of a "self-reliant India." Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad described the launch of the vaccination drive as "historic and a memorable day."
- Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla receives shot of Covishield vaccine
Poonawalla joined the healthcare workers in getting the Covishield vaccine shot. The CEO shared a small video of him receiving the jab on Twitter. "I wish India and Sri Narendra Modi ji great success in launching the world's largest Covid-19 vaccination roll-out. It brings me great pride that Covidshield is part of this historic effort and to endorse its safety and efficacy, I join our health workers in taking the vaccine myself," he tweeted.
- Vaccine will work as 'Sanjeevani' says health minister Harsh Vardhan
The fight against Coronavirus is on the road to victory, said Union minister Harsh Vardhan while hailing the launch of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination, adding that the country has a robust system for the immunisation process. "This moment gives all of us immense satisfaction and as health minister of the country, I would like to pay tribute to all those who have contributed to the success of this fight," Vardhan said after overseeing the launch at Delhi's AIIMS.
- AIIMS director reassures people Covaxin vaccine is safe
Urging the people to have faith in India's researchers, scientists, regulatory authorities, AIIMS director Dr Randeep Singh Guleria reassured the nation that Bharat Biotech's Covaxin vaccine is safe.
"I want to reassure everyone that the vaccine is safe. It is efficacious. We have to vaccinate a huge number of people prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection and therefore we can't start being very choosy. We must have confidence in our researchers, scientists, and regulatory authorities," he said.
- Right time for vaccination, can stop 2nd wave: Experts
As India gears up for Covid vaccination amid a significant decline in active cases, experts say the innoculations is necessary and the timing is apt as it can help avoid a new wave, particularly in the wake of the new UK strain which has higher transmissibility.
“We are fortunate to be starting the vaccination drive at this time with the first wave in decline. This will help in timely vaccination of a significant proportion of the population if at all the second wave does hit us,” said Dr AS Soin, chairman of Medanta Liver Institute.
- World's largest vaccination drive launched
PM Narendra Modi launched India's vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus via video conferencing.
Emphasising the enormity of the vaccination drive, which he launched through a remote control amid chanting of Sanskrit shloka that meant 'let everybody be happy, let everybody be healthy', Modi said never before in history, has this type of a large-scale vaccination campaign been undertaken.
A total of 3,006 session sites across all States and Union territories were virtually connected during the launch. Around 100 beneficiaries are scheduled to vaccinated at each session site on an inaugural day.
Billed as the world's largest vaccination program, covering the entire length and breadth of the country, the drive aims to first inoculate millions of its healthcare and frontline workers and reach an estimated 3 crore people by the end of its first phase.