India successfully rolled out the world’s largest Covid-19 vaccination drive yesterday. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conferencing.
More than 1.91 lakh people across the country were inoculated on the first day. The Health Ministry said not a single case of post-vaccination hospitalisation has been reported so far. SII-produced Covidshield was supplied to all States and UTs, while Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was sent to 12 States. Government said, vaccination drive is probably the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said India’s COVID 19 vaccination campaign is based on very humane principles and those exposed to maximum risk get priority. Mr Modi stressed that this type of large-scale vaccination campaign has never before been run in history. He pointed out that India is vaccinating three crore people in its first phase of vaccination. Mr Modi added that in the second phase, 30 crore people will be vaccinated. The Prime Minister said there are only three countries in the world with a population over 300 million – India, China and the US.
Mr Modi praised those scientists who had been involved in making the vaccine against Corona for the past several months. He exuded pride how two Made in India vaccines were readied in such a short period. Mr Modi said Indian vaccines are much cheaper than foreign vaccines but are equally good.
He said there are some vaccines abroad whose single dose cost up to 5,000 rupees and have to be kept in freeze at minus 70 degree temperature. He said India’s vaccines enjoy global credibility because of their track record. The Prime Minister said scientists gave nod to the two made-in-India vaccines after being sure of their effects, and asked people to not heed rumours and propaganda.
Mr Modi highlighted the need to have two doses of corona vaccine. Between the first and second doses, a gap of about one month will be kept. The body will develop the immunity against the corona only 2 weeks after the second dose. The Prime Minister gave the mantra of “Dawai Bhi, Kadaai Bhi” and requested people to not make the mistake of taking off the mask and not maintaining social distancing after getting the first dose.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan interacted with the Health Ministers of States and Union Territories to review the first Day of World’s largest Vaccination Programme. He urged all State Health Ministers to keep a check on rumours and disinformation regarding the Vaccines and make efforts to disseminate the right information. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, the vaccination drive, for which preparations were being done for the last five months under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally started.
The State Health ministers and Secretaries apprised the Union Health Minister on the progress and the target achieved on the first day of the vaccination. They also shared that the minor technical glitches on the software such as uploading the details of beneficiaries were noted during the vaccination. The Minister was informed that people showed appreciation and confidence in the vaccine throughout the country.