Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the first shot of the COVAXIN vaccine on March 1 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. PM informed people by tweeting a picture of himself getting a shot of the vaccine.
Key Points
- Covaxin is the Indian-researched COVID-19 vaccine produced by Bharat Biotech.
- Sister P. Niveda of Puducherry administered the vaccine jab to Prime Minister Modi. She was assisted by Rosamma Ali, a nurse from Kerala.
- In an interesting coincidence, Kerala and Puducherry are both going to the polls in April.
- Prime Minister Modi wore an Assamese gamcha, another State going to the polls.
- In a meeting of Chief Ministers, PM said that first the health and frontline workers will get vaccinated as they need more protection.
- Most of the political leaders will be vaccinated in the turn of senior citizens above 50 years of age.
- On March 1, 2021, the central government has allowed both government and private hospitals to administer the vaccine to those aged above 45 years with declared co-morbidities.
Background
COVID-19 vaccination drive began in India on January 16. The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) has given emergency use approval to AstraZeneca-developed and India-produced Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for the vaccination drive. The vaccination drive has started with giving the shots to the health workers and frontline workers. After this, a dose will be provided to senior citizens above 50 years.
