On Day 2 of phase 2 of the Covid vaccination drive, several ministers of Centre and state have taken the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine so far. In this phase, people above 60 years of age, and those aged between 45 and 59 and who have co-morbidities are eligible for vaccination. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and his wife Nutan Goel got vaccinated at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. After taking his first shot, the Health Minister said that Covid Vaccines will prove to be ‘Sanjeevani’. “I want to tell everyone that Hanumanji had to cross half of the world to get ‘sanjeevani’. But now it is there at your nearest hospital,” the health minister said.
He opted for a private hospital and paid for his jab. “We have taken this vaccine by paying Rs 250/each at the hospital. People who can afford this vaccine, please get it from your nearest private hospital,” he said.
The Union Health Minister emphasised on following Vaccine-appropriate behaviour, “From last one year, we are appealing people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. Today, I would like to introduce and request you to follow Vaccine Appropriate Behaviour (take the first dose of vaccine and get the second dose within 28 days) along with Covid-appropriate behaviour.”
Expressing his thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “I would like to thank our Prime Minister who led the country from the front during this pandemic, supported vaccine development and inaugurated the vaccination campaign on 16th January. When his turn came, he got himself vaccinated first leading by example.” Indian vaccines are in high demand in the world. Vaccines have been sent to around 28 countries. Around, 3 to 4 dozen countries are demanding these vaccines. The world is appreciating us for this”, he added.
Speaking about the Co-Win platform, which faced glitched on the first day the Union Minister said, “There were some glitches in Co-WIN platform due to the high number of registrations all of a sudden. Yesterday Around 34 lakhs people had registered on this platform till last night. The number of people registering for vaccination is increasing rapidly.”
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He reiterated that both vaccines are safe, immunogenic and useful. Till now, around 1.5 crore people have been vaccinated.
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