Coronavirus Vaccine India LIVE updates: Resident doctors at Delhi’s RML hospital ‘apprehensive’ about COVAXIN, says association

18:00 (IST)

Sanitation worker becomes first to get COVID-19 vaccine in Ladakh

A sanitation worker was the first person to be administered the COVID-19 vaccine in Ladakh, which has recorded 128 COVID-19 deaths and a total caseload of 9,646 since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Skalzang Chodon, a safai karamchari, hailing from Skidmang village of Nyoma block, took the first jab at Heart Foundation Hospital shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the world’s biggest drive against coronavirus.

17:41 (IST)

Kejriwal, Adityanath caution people against rumours, say vaccines are safe

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was among the politicians and leaders who urged people not to believe in rumours around the COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in India. A massive vaccination drive began across the country on Saturday, and around three lakh healthcare workers were set to get the jabs.

Kejriwal visited the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital in Delhi and spoke to health workers who had received the shot. “I have interacted with those vaccinated. No one has any problem. All are happy that they will get rid of coronavirus,” he said. “I want to say to all not to pay attention to rumours and misinformation. The experts say vaccines are safe and there is no need to worry.”

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also spoke to people who had received the vaccine and warned against believing rumours. “Today is a day of immense happiness and excitement. India is the first country which has launched two vaccines,” he said.

17:23 (IST)

Doctors’ association at Delhi’s RMLH hospital says ‘apprehensive’ about COVAXIN

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi requested the medical superintendent to vaccinate them with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Covishield.

In a letter to the medical superintendent, the association said the resident doctors were “a bit apprehensive” about Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and might not participate in the immunisation drive in large numbers, thus defeating the purpose of the exercise which began in the country on Saturday.

“We have come to know that the COVID-19 vaccination drive is being conducted by the hospital today. Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech is being preferred in our hospital over Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute.The residents are a bit apprehensive about the lack of complete trial in case of Covaxin and might not participate in huge numbers thus defeating the purpose of vaccination. We request you to vaccinate us with Covishield which has completed all stages of trial before its roll-out,” the letter stated.

17:01 (IST)

Bharat Biotech to pay compensation if Covaxin causes side effects

Bharat Biotech, which has received a government purchase order for supply of 55 lakh doses of Covaxin, a COVID-19 vaccine, said the company will pay compensation to recipients in case of any serious adverse effects experienced after receiving the antidote.

A consent form to be signed by the vaccine recipients said, “In case of any adverse events or serious adverse events, you will be provided medically recognised standard of care in the government designated and authorised centres and hospitals.”

“The compensation for serious adverse event will be paid by sponsor (BBIL) in case if the SAE is proven to be causally related to the vaccine,” the form said.

16:37 (IST)

Maharashtra needs 7.5 lakh more vaccine doses, says state govt

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said the state has received 10 lakh vaccine doses, or 60 percent of the stock allotted to it, so far and the remaining doses will be available in the next 10 days.

Speaking to reporters after attending the vaccination drive in Jalna, Tope said at least 8 lakh health workers have registered for this programme, and for this, the state needs 7.5 lakh additional doses of the vaccine.

“Although the state has received 60 percent to the vaccine stock it needs, the remaining consignment will be made available in the next 10 days,” the minister said. “Maharashtra needs 17.50 lakh doses of the coronavirus vaccine, as 8 lakh health workers have registered for the programme on CoWIN application. We have received 10 lakh doses and we still need 7.5 lakh more.”

16:14 (IST)

Manish Tewari, Harsh Vardhan spar over inoculation drive

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan responded to Congress leader Manish Tewari’s quote questioning why politicians and government functionaries were not getting vaccinated as per the procedure in other countries. Vardhan slammed Tewari saying that he and the Congress are “passionate about spreading rumours”.

In response, Tewari cautioned the government not to “hide behind vaccine nationalism”.

Dear Dr @drharshvardhan

Concerns that I have articulated are real & not imagined. It is not fear Mongering.Look what is happening in Norway. It may be a different vaccine but do not hide behind vaccine nationalism. ANS QUES’s
Expected better of you Sir https://t.co/VFo1fXEEa9 https://t.co/eSWUxpmrvU

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) January 16, 2021

15:54 (IST)

Journalists laud scientists for vaccine development but note lack of complete data from trials

While ministers of the Narendra Modi government and BJP leaders spoke in celebratory terms about the COVID-19 vaccination drive that got underway in India on Saturday, journalists and activists on Twitter noted the fact that Phase 3 trials for Bharat Biotech’s vaccine had not been completed.

The DCGI’s approval for the vaccine, COVAXIN, without complete data from the Phase 3 trials was questioned by experts, journalists, and Congress leaders. But ministers said that the vaccine, which has been developed in collaboration with the ICMR, has been made with highest safety regulations. 

In a bleak time, lets take a moment to doff our hat to India’s Scientists and doctors. Our country produces 60% of the world’s vaccines and mass immunization is something our health system has handled for years. May today, the world’s largest vaccine rollout, herald better times

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) January 16, 2021

Correction, it is not #LargestVaccineDrive

It is the #LargestClinicalTrial of the world.
In vaccination drives elsewhere, members of the parliament, other political administrative members received the vaccinations first. https://t.co/5JbVlv7U6f

— Dr Sumaiya Shaikh (@Neurophysik) January 16, 2021

15:26 (IST)

Amit Shah says inoculation drive is beginning of ‘self-reliant’ India

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Union home minister Amit Shah lauded scientists and ‘COVID-19 warriors’ and said, “India is one of the few countries which has won the direction to end the biggest crisis against humanity.”

“This ‘Made in India’ vaccine represents the determination of self-reliant India. On this historic day, I bow to all our Corona warriors,” he added.

भारत उन चुनिंदा देशों में से एक है, जिसने मानवता के विरुद्ध आए सबसे बड़े संकट को समाप्त करने की दिशा में विजय पायी है।

इस अभूतपूर्व उपलब्धि से हर भारतीय गौरवान्वित है।

यह विश्वपटल पर एक नये आत्मनिर्भर भारत का उदय है।

सभी वैज्ञानिकों को बहुत-बहुत बधाई। #LargestVaccineDrive

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 16, 2021

14:39 (IST)

Sanitation worker gets first jab in Chandigarh

A 20-year-old sanitation worker received the first shot of the coronavirus vaccine as the inoculation drive commenced in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Arun, who works as a sweeper at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital at Sector 16, said he was feeling good and had no worry before being administered the jab.

After administering the vaccine, the youth was kept for observations for 30 minutes to check any side effects.

“There is no anxiety, rather I am feeling good,” said Arun, who was also given a bouquet of flowers.

PTI

14:26 (IST)

Vice President, Union ministers laud launch of vaccination drive

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu described the launch of the anti-coronavirus immunisation drive as a “red letter day” for the people of India and lauded scientists for developing the vaccines in a record time.

Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to say the ”New India” led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a nation which transforms crisis into opportunities and challenges into achievements.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the entire country is proud of the stellar leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has been instrumental in India’s famed battle against COVID-19. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad described the launch of the vaccination drive as “historic and a memorable day.”

The entire country is proud of the stellar leadership of Hon’ble PM Sh @NarendraModi Ji which has been instrumental to our famed battle against #COVID19

Congratulations India on the launch of world’s #LargestVaccineDrive

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः। pic.twitter.com/ePJwUuebty

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 16, 2021

Historic & memorable day!
India becomes Aatmanirbhar in the fight against COVID-19. Vaccines made in India being rolled out. Greatly appreciate the inspiring leadership of PM @narendramodi, which made it happen.
Vande Mataram!! 🇮🇳 #LargestVaccineDrive

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) January 16, 2021

14:17 (IST)

Launch of vaccine a revolutionary step: Uddhav Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray termed the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination drive as a “revolutionary step” and recalled efforts of health and frontline workers during the pandemic period.

Launching the vaccination drive at the COVID care centre in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), the chief minister said the “corona warriors” had selflessly treated the COVID-19 patients when there was no remedy available. “Those days still give me shivers. The situation was really adverse and grim then. Hospitals were flooded with COVID-19 patients. How to proceed was a big question before everyone and no solution was in sight. Everyone was under pressure because of the situation,” he said.

Thackeray said it was due to efforts of health workers and corona warriors that this COVID centre now has no patient to treat. “People must continue wearing masks in public places even after receiving vaccine doses. The way COVID-19 cases have once again found in large numbers in some of the countries, we may face the similar situation.

Around 4,000 health workers will be given the vaccine doses at 40 booths in the nine vaccination centres in Mumbai on the first day of the drive. Mumbai has received 1.39 lakh doses of the Covishield vaccine.

14:12 (IST)

Sweeper, nurses among first recipients of vaccine in Andhra Pradesh

A government hospital sweeper and nurses were among the first recipients of COVID-19 vaccine in Andhra Pradesh, according to PTI.

Sweeper B Pushpa Kumari and a senior staff nurse Naga Jyothy were administered the vaccine at the Government General Hospital in Vijayawada. 40-year old staff nurse Manjula of the government hospital in Prodatturu town in Kadapa district became the first person to get the vaccine.

The first phase of vaccination is being carried out at 332 locations across the state. Andhra Pradesh got 4.7 lakh doses of CoviShield and 20,000 doses of Covaxin in the first round. At each location, a team of six staff have been deployed to vaccinate 100 beneficiaries per day. Each team is supervised by a doctor.

A total of 2,324 staff would be working to vaccinate a maximum of 33,200 health care workers per day. The Health Commissioner said 3,87,983 healthcare workers were being administered the vaccination in the first phase.

14:09 (IST)

Vaccination drive begins at 243 sites in Karnataka

The first phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive began at 243 sites across the state, including 10 in Bengaluru. Nagaratna K (28), a ward attendant at Victoria Hospital received the vaccine in the presence of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Health Minister K Sudhakar among others at the Bangalore Medical College.

According to the Health Department, Covishield will be administered in 237 centres and Covaxin in six centres in Bellary, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Chamarajnagar and Davanegere.

A total of 7,17,439 health warriors will be vaccinated in the initial phase, officials have said, adding that the aim is to vaccinate 24,300 people on the first day itself. They also said the state got 8,14,500 doses of vaccine and the initial phase is expected to be completed within a week.

14:00 (IST)

Norway warns of vaccination risks for sick patients after 23 people die

Norway said COVID-19 vaccines may be too risky for the very old and terminally ill, after 23 people died in the country a short time after receiving their first dose of the vaccine. Of those deaths, 13 autopsies suggested that common side effects may have contributed to severe reactions in frail, elderly people, according to the Norwegian Medicines Agency.

“For those with the most severe frailty, even relatively mild vaccine side effects can have serious consequences,” the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said. “For those who have a very short remaining life span anyway, the benefit of the vaccine may be marginal or irrelevant.”

13:54 (IST)

WATCH: SII’s Adar Poonawalla takes COVID vaccine shot

Serum Institute of India chief Adar Poonawalla took a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine Covishield today as the nationwide inoculation programme was launched.

He is the chief of SII, which manufactured the Covishield vaccine in India.

I wish India & Sri @narendramodi ji great success in launching the world’s largest COVID vaccination roll-out. It brings me great pride that #COVISHIELD is part of this historic effort & to endorse it’s safety & efficacy, I join our health workers in taking the vaccine myself. pic.twitter.com/X7sNxjQBN6

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 16, 2021

13:47 (IST)

Inability to choose vaccine goes against informed consent: Congress MP

Congress MP Manish Tewari pointed out that many eminent doctors have raised questions about the efficacy and safety of Covaxin. He went on to add that people will not be able to choose which vaccine to take, which goes against the doctrine of informed consent.

“If the vaccine is so safe and reliable, and the efficacy of the vaccine is beyond question, then how is it that not a single functionary of the government has stepped forward to get themselves vaccinated as it has happened in other countries around the world?” he asked.

13:35 (IST)

Server down at Kolhapur vaccination centres

The servers at most Kolhapur vaccination centres went down and the staff could not access the beneficiary list, The Times of India reported.

13:23 (IST)

Amarinder Singh requests free vaccine for lower income groups in letter to Modi

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging for free vaccines for the lower income groups. “Scientists and doctors have said that the vaccine is safe. Even the Queen of England has had it, she is 93-years-old, her husband who is 99-years-old has had it. There is no fear,” he further said.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was at a Lucknow hospital as the vaccination drive was underway. “102 health workers would receive the vaccine at the hospital today, out of which 15 people have been given shots so far and all of them are totally fine,” he said.

13:04 (IST)

Listen to experts, not rumours about vaccine: Kejriwal

While inspecting the vaccination drive underway at Delhi’s LNJP Hospital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said experts have said the vaccine against COVID-19 is safe and people should not pay heed to rumours.

He further said 8,100 people will get vaccination at 81 centres in the National Capital.

13:00 (IST)

Bhutanese PM congratulates India on launch of vaccination drive

Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and the people of India on the launch of the nationwide vaccination drive against COVID-19. “We hope it comes as an answer to pacify all the sufferings we have endured this pandemic,” he said.

12:44 (IST)

India’s immunisation campaign probably biggest in the world, says Harsh Vardhan

ANI has quoted health minister Harsh Vardhan as saying, “This is probably the biggest immunisation campaign against COVID anywhere in the world. India has tremendous experience in handling such issues. We have already eradicated polio and smallpox.”

12:35 (IST)

Hospital workers gets first vaccine dose in Goa

A hospital worker became the first person in Goa to receive the coronavirus vaccine on Saturday, health officials said.

Ranganath Bhojje, a worker at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near here, was the first to receive the vaccine dose in the coastal state, an official said.

The vaccination drive began in the morning at seven different centres, including two private hospitals, in the state.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant were present at the GMCH when Bhojje was given the dose. Ninety nine others will also get the dose at this facility on Saturday.

PTI

12:19 (IST)

Vaccination drive begins in West Bengal

The COVID-19 vaccination drive began in West Bengal on Saturday morning, with a doctor of a private hospital receiving the first shot, officials said.

Bipasha Seth is the first person who got inoculated in the state, the hospital authorities said.

“It’s a great day for humankind. I feel elated to get the first dose,” said Seth.

West Bengal’s Minister of State for Labour Nirmal Maji also received the Covishield vaccine at the Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, the officials said.

The vaccination programme started around 10.30 am at 212 session sites, including medical colleges, urban primary healthcare centres and a few private hospitals, they said.

PTI

12:08 (IST)

‘Entire country is proud of PM’s leadership’, says Harsh Vardhan

The health minister posted a tweet lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in the battle against COVID-19.

The entire country is proud of the stellar leadership of Hon’ble PM Sh @NarendraModi Ji which has been instrumental to our famed battle against #COVID19

Congratulations India on the launch of world’s #LargestVaccineDrive

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः।
सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः। pic.twitter.com/ePJwUuebty

— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 16, 2021

12:00 (IST)

Vaccination drive begins at 285 centres in Maharashtra

The COVID-19 vaccination drive began in Maharashtra on Saturday along with the rest of the country.

Dr Ranjit Mankeshwar, Dean, JJ Hospital, in Mumbai and Dr Padmaja Saraf were among the first beneficiaries to receive the vaccine shots in Mumbai and at Jalna civil hospital, respectively.

The inoculation drive is taking place at 285 centres in Maharashtra where 100 healthcare workers will be administered the shots in a day, and cover 28,500 workers, an official said.

The state has received 9.63 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine and 20,000 doses of Covaxin vaccine, which have been distributed to all the districts.

PTI

11:51 (IST)

Vaccine will work as ‘sanjeevani’ against COVID: Dr Harsh Vardhan

Following the launch of a nationwide vaccination drive,health minister DR Harsh Vardhan said the vaccine will work as ‘sanjeevani’ against COVID-19.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan shows a dose of COVAXIN developed by Bharat Biotech at AIIMS, Delhi as the first phase of vaccination begins across the country. pic.twitter.com/QQP3p6CNdV

— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021

11:37 (IST)

UNICEF congratulates India on launch of vaccination drive

UNICEF congratulated the health ministry of India and health workers ahead of the launch ofthe world’s largest vaccination drive.

During the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also highlights India’s efforts in helping other countries during the pandemic.

“India hardships, provided medicines and medical help to over 150 countries. Whether it is paracetamol, hydroxychloroquine or testing equipment, India has made every possible effort to save people of other countries,” he said.

Congratulations to @MoHFW_India, all the health workers and teams across India on the #LargestVaccineDrive.
All systems are in place, let’s come #TogetherAgainstCOVID19 pic.twitter.com/fhLf3ubxMF

— UNICEF India (@UNICEFIndia) January 16, 2021

11:16 (IST)

First dose of COVID-19 vaccine administered at AIIMS Delhi

The first dose of the coronavirus vaccine was administered to a sanitation worker at AIIMS, Delhi in the presence of Union minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Ahead of the vaccination drive’s launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “In the fight against corona, we’ve set an example for the world at many steps. When countries left their citizens, stuck in China amidst this pandemic, on their own, India stepped up and evacuated not only Indians but also people of other nations under Vande Bharat mission.”

11:02 (IST)

Reserving first vaccines for health workers a tribute to their efforts: PM

Remembering the efforts of healthcare workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said corona warriors remained away from their homes for days to attend to the call of duty. “By reserving the first vaccines for these people, the society is expressing its gratefulness. Our vaccination programme is driven by humanitarian concerns, those exposed to maximum risk get priority,” he further said.

Also lauding the country’s response to the outbreak, Modi said India was early to take guard against the pandemic and formed a committee to deal with it.

10:53 (IST)

Vaccines available in India cheaper, don’t need extremely low temperatures: Modi

Addressing the country ahead of the launch of the coronavirus vaccination drive, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said vaccines available in India are much cheaper than options in other countries, adding that they don’t need to be stored in extremely low temperatures.

Highlighting the massive scale of the inoculation drive to be launched today, Modi further said, “There are over 100 countries having less than 3 crore population and India is administering vaccination to 3 crore people in first phase itself. In the second phase, we have to take this number to 30 crores.”

10:46 (IST)

Modi urges people to take two doses, continue to wear masks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to remember that the COVID-19 vaccines are only effective when two doses are to be taken. “Experts have said that there should be a gap of one month between both vaccinations,” he said.

He also requested people to continue wearing masks, maintain social distancing even after getting a shot as immunity develops after the second dose.

10:39 (IST)

Narendra Modi lauds two Made In India vaccines

Stating that the work on other vaccines is progessing at a fast pace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the development and launch of two Made In India vaccines in a short span of time.

10:34 (IST)

PM Modi congratulates nation on launch of vaccine

Speaking via videoconferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated all countrymen on the launch of the world’s largest vaccination drive.

Two vaccines – SII’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin – will be administered in India from today onwards.

He also thanked the medical and research workers who worked endlessly to develop the vaccine.

10:21 (IST)

Number of doses sent to various states

• Goa got its first consignment of 23,000 doses of Covishield.
• West Bengal recieved 10 lakh doses of Covishield as part of the first consignment, of which 3.11 doses are for the neighbouring states.
• Mizoram got 18,500 Covishield vials in first phase.
• Bihar received 54,900 vials of Covishield vaccines.
• Tamil Nadu got 5,36,500 doses of Covishield and 20,000 doses of COVAXIN.
• Telangana received 3.64 lakh doses of Covishield as part of the first consignment.
• Uttar Pradesh has received around 1.6 lakh doses of Covishield.

10:19 (IST)

Number of doses sent to various states

• Puducherry has received 17,500 doses of Covishield vaccine, and it would be used in Puducherry and Karaikal regions, officials said.
• Jammu and Kashmir has received the first consignment of 1.46 lakh doses of Covishield.
• Tripura recieved the first consignment of 56,500 doses of Covishield vaccine.
• Madhya Pradesh has received 94,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine for the first phase.
• Assam has received 12,000 doses of COVAXIN and 2.40 lakh vials of Covishield for itself and Meghalaya.
• Karnataka has received 6.48 lakh doses of Covishield.
• Odisha received 20,000 vials of COVAXIN and 4.08 lakh doses of Covishield.

10:18 (IST)

Number of doses sent to various states

• Rajasthan has received 5,62,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including 20,000 doses of COVAXIN.
• Sikkim has so far got 1,250 vials of Covishield in the first batch.
• Haryana has so far received 2.41 lakh doses of Covishield in its first batch.
• Uttarakhand has got 1,13,000 doses of Covishield.
• Manipur has received 54,000 doses of Covishield vaccine.
• Kerala has received 4.33 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine.
• Gujarat has got 5.40 lakh doses of Covishield.

09:59 (IST)

Likely adverse effects of Covishield, Covaxin

Mild effects: For Covishield, likely mild adverse events following immunisation including injection site tenderness, injection site pain, headache, fatigue, myalgia, malaise, pyrexia, chills, arthralgia and nausea.

Rare effects: “Very rare events of demyelinating disorders” have been reported following vaccination with Covishield, “without the causal relationship establishment”. Conditions that damage myelin, a protective layer over the nerves, are called demyelinating disorders. 

Covishield should be given with “caution” to individuals with thrombocytopenia, a condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets.

Mild effects: Among mild adverse events following immunisation are injection site pain, headache, fatigue, fever; body ache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, tremors, sweating, cold, cough and injection site swelling.

Rare effects: Bharat Biotech has said that chloroquine and corticosteroids, both used as repurposed drugs in COVID-19 clinical management, “may impair antibody response” likely to be triggered by the vaccine.

09:53 (IST)

BMC has registered 3.3 lakh medical, frontline workers, says civic body chief

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corproation (BMC) have registered 1,30,000 health workers and around 2,00,000 frontline workers through the CoWin app, the civic body chief Iqbal Chahal told LiveMint.

Mumbai has received 1,39,500 vaccine doses compared with the 1,30,000 requested for the first phase, which can be completed in 10 days, he added.

The BMC has formed 500 teams, each having two vaccinators, two support staff and one security guard. They will initially run the vaccination program at eight centers, where 12,000 people can be injected every day.

#WATCH | Health workers clap and cheer as COVID-19 vaccine reaches the vaccination centre at Cooper hospital in Mumbai, Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/QOp2X15Cs8

— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021

09:33 (IST)

General guidelines pertaining to COVID-19 vaccine

The vaccination is only for people over the age of 18 years.

The vaccines are not interchangeable: the second dose will have to be of the same vaccine that was administered as the first dose.

The vaccine should be given with “caution” to persons with a history of any bleeding or coagulation disorder — platelet disorder, clotting factor deficiency, or coagulopathy.

Vaccinators have to store both vaccines at +2°C to +8°C; protect them from light; and discard the vaccine if found to be frozen.

09:24 (IST)

Pregnant women, people allergies should not take vaccine

Certain groups have been advised or directed not to take the vaccine, which is being launched today in India for healthcare and frontline workers. Here are the groups that should not take the vaccine:

• Pregnant women and lactating mothers
• People with a history of anaphylactic or allergic reactions
• People with an allergy to injectable therapies, pharma products, etc.

09:13 (IST)

Other vaccines in the works and how they work

Among the vaccines that are yet to come to India are the ones made by American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and its German-based partner BioNTech and another by American company Moderna which are being used in US, UK, and other countries.

Both use messenger ribonucleic acid or mRNA, a sort of genetic software that asks cells to make a piece of the coronavirus spike protein, putting them on guard against infections.

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, which has been cleared by eight countries so far, is undergoing last-stage trials in India after completing a Phase 2 study. An adenoviral vector vaccine like Covishield, it is expected to soon apply for emergency-use approval in the country.

American multinational Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine arm Janssen Pharmaceuticals has also said it is on track to roll out its single-shot coronavirus vaccine in March and expects to have clear data on how effective it is by the end of this month or early February.

09:10 (IST)

Covaxin: How the vaccine works

Developed by Bharat Biotech and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Covaxin is the second vaccine to have been approved by the government.

It is an inactivated vaccine, one of the oldest methods for vaccination, which uses whole, inactivated viruses that are injected to trigger an immune response. These whole batches of coronavirus must be grown, “killed” using a chemical or heat and then made into a vaccine, making it a longer process.

There have been some concerns about Covaxin because its efficacy has not yet been proven in Phase 3 clinical trials, unlike Covishield and vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna. While the first two phases of vaccine trials generally find out if they are safe, the third phase usually finds out if the vaccine is effective or not.

09:07 (IST)

Covishield: How the vaccine works

Developed by the University of Oxford and British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India, Covishield has emerged as the most promising vaccine for countries like India where cost and logistics are a significant consideration.

Covishield is a vector vaccine which are slower but cheaper and can be kept stable for six months at standard refrigerator temperatures. The vaccine uses a weakened version of a common cold virus called an adenovirus that affects chimpanzees but doesn’t infect humans. It attaches to cells and injects DNA that tells them to make the coronavirus spike protein – the structures on the surface of the coronavirus, giving it that studded appearance.

This catches the attention of the immune system which recognizes it as foreign and builds up a defence to attack the real coronavirus when an actual infection occurs.

08:56 (IST)

Centre to fund doses for first round of inoculation

The campaign will be held from 9 am to 5 pm on all days but those earmarked for routine immunisation programme.

The funding of the first two groups of those getting vaccinated — the healthcare and frontline workers — will be done entirely by the Centre. The drive will be held for these groups at various public health care facilities both in rural and urban India.

Healthcare will include doctors, nurses, technicians, lab workers, including ICDS workers. Frontline workers will be personnel from state and central police department, armed forces, home guard, prison staff, disaster management volunteers and civil defence organisation, municipal workers and revenue officials engaged in COVID-19 containment, surveillance and associated activities.

08:51 (IST)

On first day, 16,000 to be vaccinated in Gujarat, 6,500 in Assam

Medical superintendents of government hospitals at Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar will be among the first to get the shots in Gujarat, where over 16,000 health workers will be vaccinated during the day, officials said.

In Assam, an estimated 6,500 people of the 1.9 lakh health workers will be vaccinated on the first day. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the drive at Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. Former vice chancellor of Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences Dr Umesh Chandra Sarma will be the first to receive the initial dose in the state.

08:48 (IST)

Vaccination drive to be conducted at 81 sites in Delhi

In Delhi, the drive will kick off from the state-run LNJP Hospital with a simple ceremony in the presence of Chief Minister Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain.

A trio of a doctor, nurse and a sanitation worker will receive COVID-19 vaccine shots in the presence of Kejriwal at LNJP Hospital, sources told PTI.

The 81 sites named in the national capital for administering the jabs include six Central government facilities like AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital and Kalawati Saran Children Hospital and two ESI hospitals.

08:30 (IST)

Co-WIN app will be used to drive vaccination programme 

An online digital platform Co-WIN, developed by the health ministry, will be used to drive the vaccination programme.

A dedicated 24×7 call centre — 1075 — has also been set up for addressing queries related to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine roll-out and the Co-WIN software.

08:28 (IST)

India will enter ‘decisive phase with world’s vaccination programme: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country would enter a “decisive phase” in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

“Tomorrow, 16 January, India begins the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive. The launch will take place at 10:30 am tomorrow morning,” he tweeted.

His office had said this will be the world’s largest vaccination programme covering the entire length and breadth of the country and all preparations are in place to initiate it on the principles of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.

Tomorrow, 16th January, India begins the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 Vaccination drive.

The launch will take place at 10:30 AM tomorrow morning. https://t.co/zopwtXPmZO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 15, 2021

08:26 (IST)

Inoculation drive ‘beginning of end’ of pandemic: Harsh Vardhan

On the eve of the roll-out, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviewed the preparations and visited the dedicated COVID-19 control room set up at the Nirman Bhawan premises of the health ministry.

The vaccination drive has been planned in a phased manner, identifying priority groups. Healthcare workers, both in government and private sectors including ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) workers, will receive the vaccine during this phase, the health ministry said in a statement. Vardhan said India’s exercise to vaccinate its population against COVID-19 shall be the largest immunisation drive of the world.

He reiterated that both the indigenously manufactured vaccines—Covishield by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech—have proven safety and immunogenicity records and are the most important tools to contain the pandemic.

Speaking at a separate programme, Vardhan said, “Tomorrow is an important day… it is the last phase of the battle against coronavirus. I say, this is probably the beginning of the end of COVID now which is going to start tomorrow.” He, however, cautioned that even if the vaccination drive is on, there should not be lowering of guard and people must follow COVID-19-appropriate behaviour.

08:24 (IST)

Over 3 lakh healthcare workers to get vaccinated today

India is all set to roll out the world’s biggest vaccination programme on Saturday, with over 3 lakh healthcare workers to be inoculated on the first day of the much-anticipated drive, which the government said is “probably the beginning of the end” of COVID-19.

A total of 3,006 session sites across all states and Union territories will be virtually connected during the launch at 10.30 am by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and around 100 beneficiaries will be vaccinated at each session site.