Sanitation worker first to get Covid vaccine in Delhi
■ Vaccines are sanjivini in our fight against the pandemic, says Union health minister Harsh Vardhan
New Delhi, Jan. 16: Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker, became the first person in the national capital to be administered a Covid-19 vaccine during the launch of the nationwide vaccination programme at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the presence of Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday.
As people around applauded, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria also received a shot of the vaccine followed by NITI Aayog member V.K. Paul.
Mr Kumar, who works at the AIIMS along with his mother Laxmi Rani, said he was not at all nervous and was “proud of getting the vaccine.”
Mr Harsh Vardhan said the two vaccines — the indigenous Covaxin from Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable — are like sanjivani (life infusing) in the fight against the pandemic.
“These vaccines are our sanjivini in our fight against 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,” he told reporters shortly after the vaccine shots were administered.
Meanwhile, a security guard was the first to get the Covaxin shot at RML Hospital and another security guard was also the first to get the jab at Safdarjung Hospital.
Several doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers also got the shots in these hospitals.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the world’s largest vaccination drive against the pandemic.
Noting that it is a historic day, Mr Harsh Vardhan
◗ A SECURITY guard was the first to get the Covaxin shot at RML Hospital and another security guard was also the first to get the jab at Safdarjung Hospital. Several doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers also got the shots in these hospitals.
said, “We have been blessed by the Prime Minister all through our fight against coronavirus. It’s the largest coronavirus vaccination programme in world.”
“We have been able to put up a valiant fight against the disease during the last one year. Adopting a preemptive and proactive strategy has resulted in a very good performance by India. We have probably the lowest fatality rate in the world,” Mr Harsh Vardhan said.
Asserting the safety of both the coronavirus vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, Mr Harsh Vardhan said: “The experts gave their approval after seeing the results. There is no difference between both the vaccines. Both are equally safe and effective.”
He said, “At a time when rumours are being spread, I hope the media will spread the correct information and this move will help in the fight against the disease,” the health minister said.
Mr Harsh Vardhan also said that the phase-3 trials of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin are ongoing. “It has been subjected to ample and adequate scrutiny,” he said.
“There is no need for any fear. We have to be absolutely fearless and sure of the safety of this vaccine. We also have to be patient. Everyone has to wait for his/her turn,” the health minister said.
According to the government, the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities.
The cost of vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers will be borne by the Central government.
Thanking all, including doctors, nurses, healthcare staff, security personnel, and journalists who have been at the frontline in the fight against the pandemic, Mr Harsh Vardhan said they ensured that India reaches the stage where vaccines are delivered to the people.
On concerns over the efficacy of the vaccine, he said there is no evidence to suggest it is unsafe and these are false rumours and narratives.
Mr Harsh Vardhan also visited Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to inspect the Covishield vaccination programme at the facility after AIIMS.