Highlights:
- PM was given Covaxin, a homegrown vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech
- PM Modi has urged anyone who is qualified to get vaccinated
- PM Modi was taken without any special route constraints to AIIMS early this morning
Prime Minister Narendra Modi got a Covid shot this morning at Delhi’s AIIMS hospital, making him the first citizen to benefit from the second phase of nationwide coronavirus vaccination.
As he took a dose of the home-grown Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research, PM Modi discussed vaccine apprehension (ICMR).
PM Modi tweeted, along with an image of himself taking first dose of Covaxin vaccine, “Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19.”
PM Modi also encouraged anyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine, as the country started immunising people over the age of 60 and those over the age of 45 who have illnesses.
PM Modi’s tweet also said, “Together, let us make India COVID-19 free.”
Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2021
Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19.
I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together, let us make India COVID-19 free! pic.twitter.com/5z5cvAoMrv
The PM’s vaccination was marked with symbols from states where elections are scheduled for March-April; he wore an Assamese gamchha or scarf, and nurses from Kerala and Puducherry – Rosamma Anil and P Niveda, who administered the shot. According to the officials, the scarf is “symbolic of Assamese women’s blessings.” It has been worn on several occasions by the Prime Minister.
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According to a statement released by his office, he opted to take the shot early and was transported to AIIMS without any special route constraints to avoid causing any inconvenience to the public.
Apart from Covaxin, Covishield, developed by Pune-based Serum Institute in collaboration with Oxford University and pharma giant AstraZeneca, is being used in the vaccination campaign, which began on January 16.
More vaccines, including Russia’s Sputnik-V and Cadila Healthcare’s ZyCov-D, are expected to be approved in the coming months.
India is extending its coronavirus vaccination programme today to include people over the age of 60 and those over the age of 45 who are sick, in an attempt to control the spread of more infectious virus strains and an increase in cases in some states.
