New Delhi: January 16 will go down in the history as one of the most important dates when India launched colossal vaccination drive to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister has himself been spearheading this drive. After launching the vaccination drive in morning, PM Modi followed it through the day.
As vaccination was being given to people at more than 3,000 centres across the country, PM Modi kept monitoring the process via video link and even took real-time updates on the vaccination process.
1.65 lakh healthcare workers vaccinated on Day 1
As per reports, a total of 1,65,714 healthcare beneficiaries received COVID-19 jab on Saturday across the country, marking it as a historic and biggest COVID-19 vaccination drive launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Total vaccinators involved across India were 16,755. Total beneficiaries vaccinated across India–1,65,714. COVID19 vaccination drive was successful on Day 1. No case of post-vaccination hospitalisation reported so far,” said Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry.
Covering the entire length and breadth of the country, India’s vaccination program is biggest in the world. Under the drive, a whopping 3 crore healthcare and frontline workers will be inoculated in first phase.
PM Modi turned emotional during vaccination launch
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi gets emotional while talking about the hardships faced by healthcare and frontline workers during the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/B0YQsqtSgW
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021
Speaking at the launch of the nationwide vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus via video conferencing, PM Modi said: “India’s coronavirus drive is based on humanitarian and very important principles. Those who need the vaccine the most will get the dose first. Those who are at high risk will get the vaccine shot at first. Doctors, nurses, sanitation staff at hospitals, medical and para-medical staff are the most deserving to get the vaccine dose first.”
