The day which we all have been waiting for since the past year has finally arrived. On January 16th, India will be undertaking the world’s biggest immunization program in its battle against covid. The vaccination drive will be launched at 10:30 am today after PM Modi addresses the nation via video conferencing. The first phase of the drive which is set to begin today is aimed at inoculating 3 crore health and frontline workers.
On January 3rd DCGI had given emergency use approval to Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Throughout the past week, 1.65 crore doses of Covishield and Covaxin have been shipped out to all states as a part of initiating the first phase. Today’s target is to vaccinate over 3 lakh health care workers and other essential workers. The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has called the much-anticipated drive “probably the beginning of the end” of the pandemic.
Around 3000 sites across all states and UT’s have been identified for conducting the drive. An estimated number of 100 people will be vaccinated at each site. There will be a five-member team on each site that will be conducting the whole process from identifying the beneficiaries, inoculating to handling the crowds. As per the health ministry, the beneficiaries will not be given a choice between the two vaccines.
Further, all real-time data of the vaccination process including information regarding vaccine storage, administrators, and beneficiaries will be reflected on the Co-WIN app which will be launched by the government today. A 24×7 hotline – 1075, will also be available to take on the queries related to the vaccination drive.
Live Updates
'A lot learnt from last year' : PM Modi
On the occasion of the nationwide vaccination drive, PM Modi calls the past year a great learning phase.
Today when we take a look at the last year, we realise that we have learnt a lot as a person, a family and as a nation: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/yFnAsBjv25
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
A month gap required between two doses: PM Modi
As the much-anticipated vaccination drive is about to begin, PM Modi reminds people that it is important to have a month gap between the administration of the first and the second vaccine dose.
#ITookTheVaccine 'I want to remind people of the country that two doses of the Corona vaccine are very important with a gap of one month in-between': Prime Minister, Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) launches #COVID19Vaccination drive pic.twitter.com/zqLMAvHxiO
— NewsX (@NewsX) January 16, 2021
PM Modi calls it the world's biggest vaccination drive
With India ready to begin its vaccination drive, PM Modi comments that "such a vaccination drive at such a massive scale was never conducted in history". He further says that they will need to up the number to 30 crores in the second phase.
Such a vaccination drive at such a massive scale was never conducted in history. There are over 100 countries having less than 3 crore population & India is administering vaccination to 3 crore people in first phase only. In second phase, we've to take this number to 30 crores:PM pic.twitter.com/HVKbBcmwCW
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
Social distancing to be continued after first dose: PM Modi
PM Modi requests the nation to follow social distancing norms and keep the mask on in public despite getting the first dose of vaccine. "Immunity builds after the second dose" says PM.
I request you not to make the mistake of taking off the mask and not maintaining social distancing after getting the first dose because immunity develops after the second dose: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/Rc6COMPC3u
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
PM Modi hails speedy development of two 'Made in India' vaccines
While addressing the nation, PM Modi praises the speedy development of covid-19 vaccines. He further says, "the work on other vaccines is progressing at a fast pace".
Normally, it takes many years to make a vaccine but in such a short span of time, not one, but two 'Made in India' vaccines are ready. Meanwhile, the work on other vaccines is progressing at a fast pace: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/5yfv0X6Kxt
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
"I congratulate the countrymen on this occasion" : PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates the nation as covid-19 vaccine becomes available for use.
Everyone was asking as to when the vaccine will be available. It is available now. I congratulate all the countrymen on this occasion: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/iqo0E2OWI6
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
PM Modi kickstarts vaccination drive
PM Modi launches the nationwide vaccination drive via video conferencing. This will mark the start of an end to the pandemic.
#WATCH live: PM Modi launches nation-wide COVID-19 vaccination drive via video conference. https://t.co/ZS0oJofkVl
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
