The second phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India has begun. It aims to cover 10 crore people across the country. So far, more than 1.5 core people have received Covid-19 shots.
States and UTs have been asked to keep a vaccination scale-up plan ready which includes the granular weekly and fortnightly plans for scaling up the vaccination sites both within the government and private facilities and also the number of vaccine doses administered.
Here is a list of leaders who were inoculated :
*Vice President Venkaiah Naidu was vaccinated at the Government Medical College in Chennai. He also confirmed that he would receive the next dose of the vaccine in 28 days. “Appeal to all citizens eligible for this phase of vaccination, join the campaign against the corona virus and get vaccinated,” the Vice President tweeted.
*Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS Delhi. “Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
“Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19,” PM tweeted as he shared an image of himself taking the first dose of the vaccine.
*On August 2 last year, Mr. Shah, 56, had said on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19. He underwent treatment at Medanta Hospital and was discharged after he tested negative for the virus. He was later admitted to the AIIMS for post-COVID treatment.
*Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday took the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, officials said. Doctors from the Medanta hospital administered the vaccine to Mr. Shah, a Home Ministry official said.
*Indian diplomat Syed Akbaruddin takes the first dose of vaccine on Day 1 in Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccine drive. “From registration to vaccination, took less time than my daily walk…Deeply grateful to all who made it so easy for senior citizens,” he said in a tweet.
*External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said “Felt secure, will travel safely,” as he received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. He was administered Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech.
*Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS, Delhi and said “I sincerely thank my medical colleagues led by Dr Randeep Guleria [Director, AIIMS Delhi].”
*Odisha chief minister Navin Patnaik received his first dose of the vaccine and thanked the scientists and health workers and appealed to all eligible people “to come forward and get vaccinated.”
*Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra received his first dose at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur and appealed to the people to receive their vaccinations as per schedule and without hesitation.
*Chief Ministers Bihar was also among the beneficiaries as the second phase of the nationwide Covid vaccination began today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the first beneficiary.
Over 29 lakh people had registered – online or via the Aarogya Setu app – by 8.30 pm on Monday, the first day of the public rollout of the coronavirus vaccines of phase two, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan told NDTV.
“I had checked the data before speaking with you… till 8.30 pm over 29 lakh people have registered on the platform. And, you see, if one person registers, s/he has the facility of registering for four family members,” Dr Vardhan told NDTV.
