PM Modi flags off India's first phase of Covid-19 vaccination drive

New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, world's largest against the deadly Coronavirus, and lauded the efforts of scientific community for development of COVID vaccine calling it an example of India's talent and efficiency.

Speaking after launching the vaccination drive the Prime Minister said the scientists and all those connected with the vaccine research deserve special praise. They, for the past several months, have dedicated themselves to the vaccine research, did not care about day or night and did not celebrate festivals. Usually it took years to make a vaccine, yet they were able to make it in a short time, he said calling it an ''example of India's talent efficiency and dexterity."

The government has approved two vaccines – Oxford-AstraZeneca’s ‘Covishield’ and Bharat Biotech’s ‘Covaxin’ for emergency use.

In the first phase of the vaccination drive, nearly three crore high-risk people including healthcare and frontline workers will be administered the vaccine in the coming six to eight months.

Remembering the efforts of healthcare workers, Mr Modi said corona warriors remained away from their homes for days to attend to the call of duty. "By reserving the first vaccines for these people, the society is expressing its gratefulness. Our vaccination programme is driven by humanitarian concerns, those exposed to maximum risk get priority," he further said.

While highlighting the need to have two doses of corona vaccine PM Modi said that between the first and second doses, a gap of about one month will be kept. The body will develop the immunity against the corona two weeks after the second dose. He also requested people to continue wearing masks, maintain social distancing even after getting a shot as immunity develops after the second dose.

The first dose of the coronavirus vaccine was administered to a sanitation worker at AIIMS, Delhi in the presence of Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Ahead of the vaccination drive's launch, Prime Minister said, "In the fight against corona, 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."(UNI)