Biggest COVID Vaccination Drive launched by PM Narendra Modi today across all the 28 states and 9 Union Territories in India.
After spending almost one complete year in the mayhem of pandemic now Covid-19 Vaccine drive has started from today, 16th of January 2021. On the first day, itself 3 lakh health workers will get vaccinated against the virus. (Total one crore health workers and 2 Cores frontline workers will be given priority in providing Vaccines). Also read on Vaccine prices in India and world
In the starting of the Covid drive itself, Central government issued a statement saying, “It is the beginning of the end of Covid era”.
Prime minister of India Shri Narendra Modi launched the Vaccine drive through video conferencing. About three thousand session sites got virtually connected with Prime minister at the launch on 10:30 PM across all the 28 states and 9 Union Territories. Hundred other beneficiaries along with PM Modi are supposed to get vaccinated in each session.
Prime Minister Modi on Monday had said that India would enter into a ‘decisive phase’ in the fight against the pandemic of Covid-19, ahead of Vaccine drive. According to updates, Principal Sudhir Bhandari, Principal of a medical college, SMS (Sawai Man Singh), Jaipur will be the first person in Rajasthan to get vaccinated against the virus. A hospital security guard and an attending in-charge in Madhya Pradesh will be the first one to get the first dose of Vaccine in the whole state.
Harsh Vardhan Reddy, Union Minister of health had already reviewed all the preparations ahead of drive-by visiting all the COVID control rooms which are set up in Nirman Bhawan premises of health ministry. “India’s exercise to vaccinate its population against COVID-19 shall be the largest immunisation drive of the world.” He said in a statement focusing on the importance of Vaccine drive against the virus is!
Biggest COVID Vaccination Drive Preparations
All the 28 states and 9 union territories of India are fully prepared for the inoculation programme.
Delhi
The drive-in Delhi initiated from the state-run LNJP Hospital with a simple ceremony. Chief Minister Kejriwal was also present in the ceremony along with health minister of Delhi, Satyendra Jain
Gujarat
During the whole day, 16,000 health workers will get vaccinated against the virus in Gujarat. Drive kicked off from the Medical superintendents of government hospitals situated at Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. They are the first one in the state to get vaccinated.
Maharashtra
Drive-in Maharashtra was launched by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray from the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Karnataka
About 20, 000 health workers in Karnataka are supposed to get vaccinated against virus on the very first day of the drive. Victoria hospital of Karnataka along with six centers in the state have been set up for the launch of Vaccine drive.
Assam
Chief Minister of Assam Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched the drive at the Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam. While Health Minister of state, Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated it at Gauhati Medical College. On the first day itself, an estimation of more than 6000 health workers will get vaccinated against the virus.
The drive has been planned in a phased manner, to give priority to Healthcare workers, and frontline workers, both in government and private sectors. This will also include workers of Integrated Child Development Services. This is just because health workers were on duty when the whole country and the world was in the Lockdown. They were more exposed to the virus that’s why first doses will be given to them only.
A digital platform like Co-Win will help in the smooth functioning of the Vaccine drive against the virus by monitoring and tracking the beneficiaries of Vaccine. Health minister has already described it’s featured in detail ahead of drive. More than 70 lakh health officials have already registered themselves. In them, eight lakh has been approved for providing Vaccine.
COVAXIN produces by the Bharat Biotech and Covishield by Serum Institute of India are proven safe. These are an important tool to fight against the virus. Beneficiaries of these Vaccines will not have any option to choose between the two. But, compensation will be paid by Bharat Biotech to its beneficiaries in case they feel any major reaction of Vaccine or any serious health issue.
Few rumours are also doing the rounds on the internet, grabbing a handful of innocent people in the case of dilemma, whether to go for Vaccines or not just by falling prey to few baseless rumours. Major rumours include, Women, who will get vaccinated against Covid-19 virus may become infertile and won’t be able to bear a child in the womb in future. Other rumours are regarding side-effects of Vaccines and “people who’ll get vaccinated can catch Covid-19 virus. These rumours were so strong that health minister of India Shri Harsh Vardhan Reddy himself had to interfere and clear the myths. By taking to the Twitter he cleared the air of rumours and answered some general questions.
Well, all the Indians have already bravely fought against the virus for one complete year, now they are ready to welcome a phase of ending of Covid era!
