With injections of the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines administered in medical centers across India, citizens breathed a collective sigh of relief in hopes that it could finally be the beginning of the end of the Covid-19 trauma.
Launching the campaign today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the vaccines will guarantee a “decisive victory” for the country over the coronavirus pandemic. Since its first confirmed coronavirus case in January last year, India has reported more than 1 trillion infections and 1.5 lakh deaths so far.
The first shots
Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker at AIIMS in Delhi, became the first person in the country to receive a Covid vaccine.
Kumar, who works at the hospital together with his mother Laxmi Rani, said he was not nervous at all and was “proud to receive the vaccine.”
“After the vaccine, I will continue to work without hesitation. Before, I used to hesitate during homework due to the coronavirus. Now, there will be no hesitation,” Kumar told the ANI news agency.
Along with healthcare workers like Kumar, others like AIIMS director Randeep Guleria, NITI Aayog member VK Paul, who is also head of an empowered group on medical equipment and management plan to address the coronavirus outbreak, BJP MP Mahesh Sharma and West Bengal Minister Nirmal Maji also received his first injection of the two-dose vaccine.
Adar Poonawalla, whose Serum Institute of India (SII) made the first batch of Oxford vaccines, was also among those who got vaccinated on Saturday.
Dr. Naveen Thacker, a pediatrician who became the first recipient of the injectable vaccine in Gujarat, said that the vaccine is completely safe and inoculation is the only way to overcome the pandemic.
No hospitalizations on day 1
Reporting to the media on the first day of the vaccination campaign, the Union Ministry of Health said injections were administered to 1,91,181 beneficiaries across the country.
Describing the first day as successful, the ministry said no cases of hospitalization were reported anywhere in the country.
“Serum Institute of India produced Covishield was supplied to all states / UT. Covaxin from Bharat Biotech was supplied to 12 states. A total of 3,351 sessions were conducted nationwide with both vaccines,” he said.
In a separate briefing, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said today was a day of “tremendous relief” for the country, adding that the vaccines have been presented to the country as “Sanjeevani”.
“The fight (against Covid) was gradually heading towards victory, now it seems almost definitive that the step towards victory will be made quickly,” Vardhan said on the first day of the vaccination program.
Fear for Covaxin
The nationwide launch of the two Covid vaccines also renewed apprehensions about the safety of Covaxin developed indigenously by Bharat Biotech.
Resident doctors at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the national capital asked the medical superintendent to vaccinate them with the Oxford Covid-19 Covishield vaccine instead of Covaxin.
In a letter to the medical superintendent, the association said resident physicians were “a little concerned” about Covaxin and may not participate in the immunization campaign in large numbers, defeating the purpose of the exercise.
Vardhan, Tewari at war of words
Meanwhile, Congressional Leader Manish Tewari and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan argued on Twitter after the opposition leader questioned Covaxin’s emergency use approval and claimed it was “without due process. “.
“As the launch of the vaccine begins, everything is a bit puzzling. India does not have a policy framework to authorize emergency use. However, two vaccines have been approved for restricted use in emergency situations,” Tewari said in a tweet just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. launched the vaccination campaign.
“COVAXIN is another story: approvals without due process,” added the former Union minister, labeling a media report that claimed that scientists and doctors are divided on the issue of the restricted-use approval granted to Covaxin from Bharat Biotech. , based in Hyderabad.
Responding to Tewari’s comments that raised questions about Covaxin’s approval, Vardhan, in a tweet, quoted English clergyman Charles Caleb Colton as saying: “We are so blinded by our passions that we suffer more from being condemned than from being saved.”
We are so blinded by our passions that we suffer more from being condemned than from being saved-Charles Caleb ColtonSh… https://t.co/jF1bwVq6ia
– Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) 1610785910000
“Sh @ManishTewari & @INCIndia are only passionate about spreading mistrust and rumors. Open your eyes and share photos of eminent doctors and government officials getting vaccinated,” Vardhan tweeted and posted images from the inoculation campaign that began earlier in the day.
PM Modi gets emotional
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was excited to launch the vaccination program as he remembered the sufferings of people during the pandemic.
“A family often comes together to care for their sick member. But the coronavirus isolated its victims who suffered in solitude because their relatives could not care for them for fear of infection,” the prime minister said in his speech before the launch.
“Many sick young children had to live away from their mothers who were in danger and were crying but could not do anything. The elderly were forced to fight the infection in hospitals alone. Their children couldn’t get close to them.
“Many people who passed away were not able to receive the last traditional rites they deserved,” Modi said, visibly moved.
Netizens Praise Vaccine Launch, #LargestVaccineDrive Trends On Twitter
Netizens praised the Prime Minister for launching the nationwide vaccination campaign with the hashtag ‘LargestVaccineDrive’, a trend on Twitter.
Launching India’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign earlier, Modi assured the country that emergency use authorization was granted to two Indian-made vaccines only after scientists were convinced of their safety and effectiveness, and urged that people to beware of propaganda and rumors.
Shortly after the event, Twitter and other social media platforms were filled with comments about his speech and several people praised the Prime Minister’s comments and the start of the vaccination campaign.
Just hours after launch, ‘LargestVaccineDrive’ was trending on Twitter with over 4.3 lakhs of tweets.
“The world was suffering, however, the Indians were optimistic because we knew that the PM would save us. The economy was suffering, but the Indians were optimistic because we knew that PM would save it. There was confusion about vaccines, but the Indians were relaxed because We knew that PM would select better vaccine. Thank you Modi ji, “said a Twitter user.
Another Twitter user said: “Once again, Prime Minister @narendramodi assured the people of India that we will ‘defeat # COVID19’. Thank you Prime Minister for taking care of us as the head of the family.”
Another netizen praised the scientists for their tireless work and Prime Minister Modi for his “impeccable leadership” at the time of the crisis.
BJP leaders greet vaccination program
Several BJP leaders praised the vaccination campaign as a hallmark of self-sufficient India.
Describing it as a “momentous” day in Indian history, BJP President JP Nadda said Prime Minister Modi is leading the country from the front in the battle against Covid-19 by ensuring health services for all. when they need it most.
Today marks a momentous day in the nation’s history, as our Prime Minister Hon @narendramodi launches the world… https://t.co/poe1oK7cyP
– Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) 1610775837000
Union Interior Minister and BJP Leader Amit Shah said that the vaccination campaign shows the immense potential of Indian scientists and the power of their leadership as he again praised the crown warriors.
“The ‘new India’ led by Modi ji transforms disasters into opportunities and challenges into achievements. This ‘Made in India’ vaccine represents the determination of this self-sufficient India. On this historic day, I bow down to all of our Corona warriors, ”Shah said in a series of tweets.
Echoing similar sentiments, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the Modi government has taken a decisive step to win the battle against the crown pandemic.
Uttar Pradesh Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath said the vaccination campaign is the result of the prime minister’s commitment to a “healthy India”.
Meanwhile, the head of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, investigated the Center and said he has faith in the country’s doctors but not in the government.
He also suggested that BJP folks should first line up in queues and get vaccinated while the party runs all the shows in a great way. “After a year, when the SP comes to power, we will ensure the free vaccine for all,” he said while asking the government when the poor will receive free vaccines.
(With inputs from agencies)
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