Covid jab for PM, CMs, in Phase II

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take the Covid-19 vaccine shot in the Phase-II of the inoculation drive when it will be administered to those above 50 years of age and people with co-morbidities, sources informed on Thursday.
The PM has launched the Covid-19 vaccination programme across the nation via video conferencing on Saturday. He applauded the country’s scientists and researchers for ensuring two vaccines in a short span of time. Congratulating the country, he has said that the country was waiting keenly for this day. During his address, Modi had also alleviated fears regarding efficacy of the vaccines by saying “Scientists nod to two made-in-India vaccines came only after getting surety of their effects. Don’t pay heed to propaganda. Indian vaccines credibility has a an impeccable track record”.
It has been five days since India began vaccination against the novel coronavirus disease. More than 7 lakh people have been given one of the two vaccines approved by the regulator. But several people, including some doctors and other healthcare workers, continue to be hesitant. This has led to concerns over ‘vaccine hesitancy’.
“The vaccination drive will be further accelerated… Whatever doses of vaccine are made available, we will ensure that they reach maximum beneficiaries. This will be done soon,” said Dr V K Paul, who heads the high-level national expert group on vaccination administration.
“In India, the vaccine is being prioritised for health care and frontline workers. However, despite that, if some of them are hesitant to take it, particularly the doctors and nurses, then it is disappointing. We don’t know what turn the pandemic will take; we have to start our non-Covid services… In a few days, India has planned to vaccinate all its health care workers…it is not right to have any confusion…the vaccine hesitancy among the health care workers should end,” he said.
In phase one, which is underway, three crore frontline workers in India will be administered the Covid-19 vaccine. There are 3,006 session sites across the country, where 100 beneficiaries each will be given either of India’s two indigenous vaccines, Covaxin or Covishield. Every beneficiary will need to receive two doses of the same vaccine, 28 days apart.
Since the pandemic hit India in early 2020, over one crore and 6.1 lakh people have been infected with the disease, while close to 1.52 lakh have died. In the last 24 hours, 15,223 new cases of coronavirus infections have been detected, the most in the last one week. Of the total cases, 1.92 lakh cases are currently active. Almost 97 per cent of the infected people have recovered.