COVID Vaccination: PM Modi was administered the home-grown Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the Covid vaccine shot this morning at Delhi's AIIMS hospital, becoming the first beneficiary in the second phase of nationwide vaccination against the coronavirus.
PM Modi used the occasion for some heavy messaging as he took a dose of the home-grown Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has been linked to vaccine hesitancy because of its clinical trials status. He also showcased something of three poll-bound states - Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
"Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19," PM Modi tweeted, sharing an image of himself taking first dose of the vaccine.
PM Modi also urged all eligible to take the vaccine as the country began vaccinating people over 60 and those over 45 who have illnesses.
"Together, let us make India COVID-19 free," he said.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech said that it was inspired and humbled by PM Modi's remarkable commitment to build an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The PM's vaccination was replete with symbols from states where elections will be held in March-April; he wore a gamosa or scarf from Assam and nurses from Kerala and Puducherry - Rosamma Anil and P Niveda - administered the dose. The scarf "is symbolic of blessings of women from Assam", officials said. The Prime Minister has been seen wearing it on many occasions.
PM wore a gamchha or scarf from Assam and nurses from Kerala and Puducherry - Rosamma Anil and P Niveda - administered the dose.
A statement from his office said he chose to take the shot early and was taken to AIIMS without any special route restrictions to avoid any inconvenience to the people.
Apart from Covaxin, Pune-based Serum Institute's Covishield, developed in patnership with Oxford University and pharma giant AstraZeneca, is being used in the vaccination drive which began on January 16.
More vaccines are likely to be approved for use in the coming months, including Russia's Sputnik-V and Cadila Healthcare's ZyCov-D.
India will expand its coronavirus vaccination programme today to cover people over 60 and those over 45 who have illnesses as it hopes to rein in a growing number of more infectious virus strains and a spurt in cases in some states.
Registration and booking for appointment for COVID-19 vaccination is to be done through www.cowin.gov.in and the Aarogya Setu app and there will be walk-in vaccinations in some places as well. India began its vaccination drive on January 16 intending to inoculate three crore frontline workers but has struggled with hesitancy, giving out some 1.43 crore shots so far.
The government hopes to vaccinate 30 crore people by August in this second phase.
India has reported the second-highest number of cases after the United States at 1.1 crore. Cases have spiked in recent days in states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
