Covid vaccination drive begins in state
CM virtually launches the drive, warns against carelessness during the Covid-19 vaccination process
JAIPUR: The first stage of Covid-19 vaccination drive kicked off in Rajasthan at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital on Saturday.
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot launched the much-awaited programme through his virtual address. “Finally, the vaccine is out. Vaccination will take place at 167 booths,” he said.
Gehlot warned against carelessness during the vaccination process. “All safety protocols should be followed properly even after being vaccinated. If there is any carelessness, the government will deal with strictly. This is a big campaign. It will take one to one-and-halfformer a-year to vaccinate everyone. Until then, we need to continue to follow Covid related protocols and break the chain,” he said.
Health minister Raghu Sharma said that the Covid vaccination is going on at 167 places and 4.80 lakh health workers will be vaccinated in the first phase. “In the second phase, front line workers, police, defence and paramilitary personnel and revenue department workers will be vaccinated and people above the age of 50 will be vaccinated in the third phase,” he said.
Sudhir Bhandari, the principal of Jaipur’s SMS Medical College, became the first person to get the vaccination in Rajasthan, along with three other doctors - Ish Munjal, Tarun Patni and GL Sharma. “I am feeling very good. There is a sense of happiness and excitement and well being. This is a safe procedure and I believe it is the safest way to tide over the corona pandemic,” Bhandari told Gehlot, when latter asked about his experience of vaccination.
Gehlot and his ministers also interacted with other health workers and officials, who were scheduled to get vaccinated on the first day in various districts. Ganganagar chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Girdhari Lal told energy minister BD Kalla, “I am the first to get vaccinated in the district today. All our nursing staffers and other health workers are motivated and will continue to serve people like before after the vaccination.”
Health minister Raghu Sharma interacted with the hospital staff at Kekri in Ajmer district, while transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariya spoke to the health workers in Dholpur district.
Around 5,68,000 vaccine doses of two companies have reached Rajasthan. Of this, 4,43,000 doses of Covishield and 20,000 of Covaxin were kept in Jaipur stores and 1,05,000 doses of Covishield were kept in Udaipur. Till January 14, the state has fed data of more than 6,00,000 beneficiaries in the CO-WIN software for the vaccination, which includes health workers of state and central ministries and private sector.
ASHOK GEHLOT,
CM