India’s Covid vaccination drive: Over 1.9 lakh frontline staff get first jabs on Day 1

Nearly a yr after India reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, which has to date sickened greater than a crore folks and killed greater than 1.5 lakh, India on Saturday kicked off the world’s largest immunisation train in opposition to Covid-19.
On Day 1, over 1.91 lakh beneficiaries from the three crore precedence group comprising healthcare and frontline staff got the primary pictures of Covid-19 vaccines as a part of the primary section. No case of post-inoculation hospitalisation was reported, the Union Health Ministry stated.

Stating that the vaccination drive was efficiently carried out on the primary day, Additional Secretary within the Union Health Ministry Manohar Agnani stated a complete of 16,755 personnel had been concerned in organising 3,351 vaccination classes. The 11 states and union territories the place each Covishield and Covaxin had been administered had been Assam (65 classes), Bihar (301), Delhi (81), Haryana (77), Karnataka (242), Maharashtra (285), Odisha (161), Rajasthan (167) Tamil Nadu (160), Telangana (14) and Uttar Pradesh (317).
Launching the train by way of video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the emergency use authorisation was given to the 2 ‘Made in India’ vaccines solely after scientists had been satisfied of their security and effectiveness. The vaccines will guarantee a decisive victory for the nation over the coronavirus pandemic, he stated.
Earlier this month, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had given its nod to Oxford/AstraZeneca’s Covishield vaccine which is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and the indigenously developed Covaxin from Bharat Biotech for ‘restricted emergency use’.
The Prime Minister reminded people who the vaccine must be taken in two doses and requested them to proceed with masks and social distancing even after receiving the primary jab.

“Dawaai bhi, kadaai bhi (yes to medicine and yes to caution),” Modi stated, asking folks to keep away from complacency and comply with Covid-19 applicable behaviour.
Dr A Ok Singh director Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Institute taking the primary dose of Covid vaccine at RML Vaccination Centre in Lucknow on Saturday. (Express photograph by Vishal Srivastav)
PM Modi grew to become emotional throughout his speech whereas discussing the disruption the pandemic had brought on to folks’s lives, their quarantine struggles and denying the lifeless conventional final rites. He additionally referred to sacrifices made by healthcare and frontline staff, a lot of who misplaced their lives to the pandemic.
“Our vaccination programme is driven by humanitarian concerns, those exposed to maximum risk will get priority,” the Prime Minister stated.
The vaccine will first be administered to an estimated one crore healthcare staff, and round two crore frontline staff, after which to individuals above 50 years of age, adopted by individuals youthful than 50 years of age with related comorbidities.
Saroj Bala, a 40-year-old safai karamchari, is the primary beneficiary of Covid vaccine at Sector-4 in Panchkula. (Express photograph by Jaipal Singh)
India is drawing from its experiences of its Universal Immunisation Programme and the sales space technique throughout elections to conduct the large drive. The Centre has disbursed Rs 480 crore to states for the operational price of the train. Aadhaar and the Co-WIN platform will likely be used extensively to establish and monitor beneficiaries. If all goes to plan, 30 crore folks could also be vaccinated in opposition to the contagion by July finish.
The authorities has created a devoted 24X7 helpline quantity — 1075 — to handle queries associated to the vaccine rollout and the Co-WIN software program.
Bharat Biotech to pay compensation if Covaxin causes uncomfortable side effects
Bharat Biotech, the producer of Covaxin, has stated the corporate pays compensation to vaccine recipients in case of any critical opposed results skilled after receiving the shot. In the consent kind to be signed by the vaccine recipients, Bharat Biotech stated, “In case of any adverse events or serious adverse events, you will be provided medically recognised standard of care in the government designated and authorised centres/hospitals.”
A nurse administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a frontline employee, after the digital launch of COVID-19 vaccination drive by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at Max Hospital in New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)
“The compensation for serious adverse event will be paid by sponsor (BBIL) in case if the SAE is proven to be causally related to the vaccine,” the consent kind stated.
Fingers had been raised over the efficacy of the Covaxin as its section 3 medical trials are but to be accomplished.
“Hence it is important to appreciate that receiving the vaccine does not mean that other precautions related to Covid-19 need not be followed,” the consent kind stated.
BJP leaders credit score Modi’s management on vaccine rollout
After attending the primary vaccine shot on the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan stated the 2 vaccines would work as ‘sanjivani’ within the battle in opposition to the pandemic.
“We have won the battle against polio and now we have reached the decisive phase of winning the war against Covid. I want to congratulate all frontline workers on this day,” PTI quoted Vardhan as saying.
Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to say this ‘New India’ led by PM Modi is a nation which transforms disaster into alternatives and challenges into achievements.
A medic administers the primary dose of Covishield vaccine to a frontline employee within the presence of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, after the digital launch of COVID-19 vaccination drive by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at AIIMS in New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (PTI Photo)
“This ‘Made in India’ vaccine represents the determination of this self-reliant India. On this historic day, I bow to all our corona warriors,” he stated.
Vardhan stated your complete nation is pleased with the stellar management of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has been instrumental in India’s famed battle in opposition to Covid-19. “Congratulations India on the launch of world’s largest vaccine drive,” he wrote on the microblogging web site.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad described the launch of the vaccination drive as “historic and a memorable day.”
“India becomes ‘aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) in the fight against Covid-19. Vaccines made in India being rolled out. Greatly appreciate the inspiring leadership of PM Narendra Modi which made it happen. Vande Mataram,” he wrote on Twitter.
Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu stated India has scripted historical past by touching a brand new milestone within the battle in opposition to Covid-19 pandemic with PM Modi launching the world’s largest vaccination drive.
AIIMS director Randeep Guleria being administered a shot of the vaccine in Delhi
“This is a proud moment for every Indian and I would like to convey my deepest appreciation to all the scientists for the remarkable speed with which the vaccines were developed in a record time,” he wrote in a Facebook put up.
It is pertinent to level out that usually it takes a number of years earlier than a vaccine reaches folks at massive after profitable completion of all trials in any respect phases, the vp stated.
Meanwhile, senior Congress chief Manish Tewari alleged that the emergency use approval given to the indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin was “sans due process”.
“As vaccine roll out begins, it is all a bit puzzling India has no policy framework for authorising emergency use. Yet, two vaccines have been approved for restricted use in emergency situation,” Tewari stated in a tweet simply earlier than PM Modi launched the vaccination drive.
“COVAXIN is another story — Approvals sans Due Process,” the previous union minister added.