WHO Congratulates India On “Largest” Coronavirus Vaccination Drive

New Delhi:

The regional workplace of the World Well being Group tweeted Saturday as India launched the primary section of a nationwide drive to vaccinate round three crore individuals in opposition to the novel coronavirus.

In messages posted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tackle to the nation, the WHO’s South-East Asia workplace mentioned it was “the most important vaccination drive” and posted pictures of women and men being administered the vaccine at totally different centres throughout the nation.

“India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi right this moment launched COVID-19 vaccination concentrating on 300 million (30 crore) precedence teams, together with healthcare and frontline employees, within the first section. Round 100 individuals will get Covid vaccination at every of India’s 3,006 websites on the inaugural day of the most important vaccination drive,” WHO South-East Asia mentioned.

India’s ???????? Prime Minister @narendramodi right this moment launched #COVID19Vaccination concentrating on 300 million precedence teams, together with #healthcare and #frontlineworkers, within the first section. #LargestVaccinationDrive#IndiaFightsCoronapic.twitter.com/VqSufmtEw4

— WHO South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) January 16, 2021

“The primary section of COVID-19 vaccination is predicted to cowl 10 million (one crore) healthcare employees, 20 million (two crore) frontline employees and 270 million (27 crore) above age 50 years and/or with co-morbidities,” the organisation added.

Round 100 individuals will get #Covid19Vaccination at every of India’s 3,006 websites on the inaugural day of the #LargestVaccinationDrive#IndiaFightsCorona#Unite2FightCoronapic.twitter.com/MIohYlvt4U

— WHO South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) January 16, 2021

The nationwide Covid vaccination drive started a little bit after 11 am, with a sanitation employee at Delhi’s AIIMS the primary particular person within the nation to obtain a shot. “I used to be not reluctant to get the vaccine shot… individuals shouldn’t be afraid,” Manish Kumar instructed information company ANI.

The primary section #COVID19Vaccination is predicted to cowl 10 million #healthcare employees, 20 million #frontlineworkers and 270 million above age 50 years and/or with co-morbidities. #LargestVaccinationDrive#IndiaFightsCoronapic.twitter.com/y3qVA01kc5

— WHO South-East Asia (@WHOSEARO) January 16, 2021

Earlier Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to these enjoying key roles within the battle to include the virus, and in addition cautioned in opposition to spreading rumours in regards to the efficacy of the vaccines and warned individuals to proceed following Covid-appropriate behaviour even after receiving the injections

Throughout India some 3,000 websites will vaccinate round 100 individuals every right this moment. About 1.5 lakh workers have been educated to manage the pictures and maintain information.

The vaccination drive has been deliberate in a phased method and contains figuring out precedence teams and informing candidates through telephones. The federal government has additionally mentioned that the CoWIN app (quick for Covid Vaccine Intelligence Community) can be used to handle the large vaccination drive.

The federal government has additionally held three nationwide dry runs to proof the vaccine supply system; the third was held on January 8 at 4,895 websites throughout 615 districts in 33 states and union territories lined.

Two vaccines have been cleared for emergency use in India – Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Whereas the previous has accomplished the three phases of medical trials as mandated by legislation, and reported a 70.42 per cent efficacy price, Covaxin has solely completed two; the third is ongoing.

Questions had been raised after the Covaxin was cleared, however the authorities mentioned the choice was based mostly on “an amazing quantity of immunogenicity and security information” from Part I and II trials. The vaccine, the federal government has mentioned, has been allowed in “medical trial mode”.

PM Modi and senior ministers and medical consultants, together with Well being Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, have confused on the protection of Covaxin, however fears over its security stay. This afternoon resident docs at Delhi’s RML Hospital demanded they be given Covishield as an alternative of Covaxin.

The federal government had earlier mentioned that folks wouldn’t be given a selection of vaccines.

The pandemic has killed over 1.5 lakh individuals in India up to now and contaminated over 1.05 crore. As of Saturday morning, there have been round 2.11 lakh energetic instances within the nation.

Vaccination drives have begun in quite a few different international locations as properly, with the UK the primary on this planet to start out administering the medication. The UK, which has cleared Covishield and the Pfizer vaccine, gave its first shot to an 82-year-old man earlier this month.