The INDMAX unit at Bongaigaon leverages the technology developed indigenously to produce a higher LPG and high-octane gasoline yield from heavy feedstocks.Coronavirus vaccination in India Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the world’s biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme via video conferencing. While launching the drive the prime minister said that a vaccination drive at such a massive scale was never conducted in history. “There are more than 100 countries having a population of less than 3 crores and India is administering vaccination to 3 crore people in the first phase only. In the second phase, we will increase this number to 30 crores,” he said.
Among prominent people who administered a COVID-19 vaccine during the launch is All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria. Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla received a shot of Covishield vaccine manufactured by his company.
Trained personnel are administering either Covishield, which is a variant of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine and has been manufactured and tested by Pune’s Serum Institute in the country or the indigenous Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech along with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India’s nodal health agency spearheading the fight against COVID-19.
In the days leading up to the vaccination drive, batches of Covaxin and Covishield were transported to several cities across the country with the help of several airlines to ensure that things run smoothly when the drive begins.
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Highlights
Medical van driver from Rajkot, along with doctors, becomes one of the first beneficiaries of COVID-19 vaccine in Gujarat on first day of inoculation drive (PTI)
With a Covishield jab on his forearm, BJP leader and Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma on Saturday got vaccinated for coronavirus as a 'healthcare worker', becoming among the first parliamentarians in India to get inoculated for the infection. Sharma, who is also a trained MBBS doctor, got vaccinated at 11 am at his Kailash Hospital in Noida Sector 27, hospital spokesperson V B Joshi told PTI. The 61-year-old former Union minister was then kept in observation for 30 minutes at the hospital, Joshi said. (PTI)
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. In the consent form to be signed by the vaccine recipients, Bharat Biotech 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/hospitals." (PTI)
As the country began administering two made-in-India vaccines against COVID-19 on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said it represents the determination of a self-reliant India and is an important milestone in the fight against the pandemic. Complimenting scientists as the world's largest vaccination drive was rolled out, Shah said in a series of tweets that India is one of the few countries which have achieved success to end the biggest crisis facing the humanity. The home minister said the 'New India' led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an India that transforms disasters into opportunities and challenges into achievements. (PTI)
The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital here on Saturday requested the medical superintendent to vaccinate them with Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield. In a letter to the medical superintendent, the association said the resident doctors were "a bit apprehensive" about 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. (PTI)
A sanitation worker was the first person to receive the COVID-19 jab in Jharkhand, as the vaccination drive began across the country on Saturday, with Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressing hope that India would soon tide over the crisis. Mariyam Gudiya, an employee at Ranchi sadar hospital, received the shot in the presence of Soren, and other senior officials, one of whom said 48 vaccination centres have been set up in 24 districts of the state. (PTI)
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday 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. Union ministers, including Amit Shah, extolled the roll out of the inoculation programme. The home minister said the made-in-India vaccines represent the determination of a "self-reliant India." Read more
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday termed a “revolutionary step” the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination drive 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) here, the chief minister said the “corona warriors” had selflessly treated the COVID-19 patients when there was no remedy available. Read more
At least 20 healthcare personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) posted in Ladakh were among the first recipients of the coronavirus vaccine on Saturday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nation-wide drive to combat the pandemic. A total of 20 ITBP personnel have been given the jab at the sector hospital in Leh and this includes two women officers, chief medical officer Katyayni Sharma Pande and medical officer Dr Skalzang Angmo, force spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said in Delhi. The border guarding force has a large presence in the Ladakh region by virtue of its deployment to guard the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. (PTI)
A government hospital sweeper and nurses were among the first recipients of COVID-19 vaccine in Andhra Pradesh as the programme was launched in the state on Saturday by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Sweeper B Pushpa Kumari and a senior staff nurse Naga Jyothy were administered the vaccine at the Government General Hospital in Vijayawada where Chief Minister formally launched the drive. (PTI)
Odisha began its COVID-19 vaccination drive on Saturday at 161 session sites across the state, where 16,100 people will be inoculated, officials said. A 51-year-old frontline worker at Capital Hospital became the person to be administered the jab around 11 am, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide rollout of the vaccination drive via video conferencing, they said. "The first vaccine dose was given to a class-IV frontline worker at Capital Hospital here. The director of the hospital and a doctor were the next to be inoculated," Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, P K Mohapatra, said. (PTI)
The first phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive began at 243 sites across the state, including 10 in Bengaluru on Saturday. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the vaccination drive nationally through video conferencing, Nagaratna K (28), a ward attendant at Victoria Hospital received the vaccine in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Health Minister K Sudhakar among others at the Bangalore Medical College. (PTI)
The coronavirus vaccination drive started in Kashmir on Saturday, with nearly 2,000 healthcare workers, including prominent doctors, to be given jabs in the Valley by the end of the day, an official said. Forty centres -- 20 each in two divisions -- across Jammu and Kashmir started the vaccination drive after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started it across the country in the morning, the official said. A G Ahangar -- the director of the SKIMS, the premier tertiary care hospital in Srinagar -- received the first shot at the centre, State Immunisation Officer Qazi Haroon said. About 4,000 healthcare workers will receive the shot in the first phase and 100 people each will be given shots at these centres, Haroon said. (PTI)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged people not to believe in rumours and listen to experts who say COVID-19 vaccines are safe, as the world's largest immunisation programme against the disease began in the country. Kejriwal inspected the COVID-19 vaccination campaign at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital here, interacted with some health workers who received the shot and lauded their contribution in fighting the pandemic. The vaccination drive has started at 81 centres in Delhi. (PTI)
Amid cheers, a woman sanitation worker received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital here as the exercise was launched in Telangana on Saturday. Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy and Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender formally launched the vaccination programme at the state-run Gandhi Hospital here. (PTI)
The vaccination drive to combat COVID-19 began in Kerala on Saturday at 133 designated centres with prominent government doctors among the first batch of frontline workers to be administered the vaccine. "It's a proud moment here in Kannur that the director of Malabar Cancer Centre, Dr Satheeshan Balasubramanyam became the first person in the district to receive the vaccine," State Health Minister K K Shailaja said. Shailaja, who visited one of the centres in Kannur district, said such prominent persons will receive the vaccine at each district centre and in all 13,300 health care workers will be covered in a single day. (PTI)
Administering anti-coronavirus vaccines to healthcare workers began in Himachal Pradesh as Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched the inoculation drive at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here on Saturday. Hardeep Singh, a sanitation worker, was the first person in the state to be administered a shot. After him, IGMC senior medical superintendent Dr Janak Raj got vaccinated. The vaccines are being administered to healthcare workers at 27 centres across the state, a senior health department official said. (PTI)
Pune-based Serum Institute of India's CEO Adar Poonawalla receives a shot of Covishield vaccine manufactured by his company. (ANI)
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A medical van driver from Rajkot, along with doctors, on Saturday became one of the first beneficiaries of COVID-19 vaccine in Gujarat on the first day of the inoculation drive. The drive began at 161 centres in the state where the vaccine jabs were administered to health workers almost simultaneously. Former president of Medical Council of India (MCI) Dr Ketan Desai, was the second person to receive the vaccine at civil hospital in Ahmedabad. (PTI)
A sanitary worker was among the first beneficiaries to receive the COVID-19 vaccine shot in Madhya Pradesh where healthcare workers were welcomed with flowers at some centres while doctors performed a 'puja' at a temple in Gwalior, as the inoculation drive rolled out. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan thanked "corona warriors" on the occasion. Vaccination centres in Bhopal, Indore and Gwalior and at some other places were decorated with flowers and balloons. In Gwalior, doctors performed 'puja' at the temple of Lord Hanuman before the start of the vaccination drive. (PTI)
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. (PTI)
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 Panaji, 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. (PTI)
I am very happy that the Covid-19 vaccination drive has begun, we have started with the health workers & it will gradually come down to other people. I've written to the PM to request free vaccine for the lower-income group: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh (ANI)
I would like to congratulate PM Narendra Modi and the people of India for the landmark launch of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive today. We hope it comes as an answer to pacify all the sufferings we have endured this pandemic: Bhutan PM Lotay Tshering (ANI)
A 51-year-old woman sanitation worker at a government hospital was the first person to get the coronavirus vaccine shot in Chhattisgarh after the launch of the nationwide inoculation drive on Saturday. Health officials here said the vaccination began in 97 centres across the state, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the drive from Delhi. "Tulsa Tandi, a Swacchtakarmi (sanitation worker) at the Dr B R Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur since 2008, was the first person to get vaccinated in the state", the state director for the National Health Mission Priyanka Shukla said. (PTI)
The COVID-19 vaccination drive began in Delhi on Saturday with healthcare workers, who were at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic, getting the first shots. Doctors, nurses and healthcare workers were vaccinated at AIIMS hospital. A doctor, a nurse and a sanitation worker will be given the shot later in the day in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at LNJP Hospital, sources had said on Friday. According to the Chief Minister's Office, Kejriwal will visit the hospital at 12 noon. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain is also expected to join him. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers of the LNJP Hospital, Delhi's largest state-run facility, had rendered yeoman service last year in the collective battle against the deadly virus. (PTI)
I am very happy and satisfied today. We have been fighting against COVID-19 in PM's leadership for the last one year. This vaccine will work as a 'sanjeevani' in the fight against COVID-19, which has entered the final stage: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan (ANI)
AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria receives COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS, Delhi. (ANI)
A sanitation worker becomes the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS Delhi. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is also present. (ANI)
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 & evacuated not only Indians but also people of other nations under Vande Bharat mission: PM Modi (ANI)
Dozens of health workers clapped and cheered the "vaccine carrier" staff as the coronavirus vaccines doses reached Mumbai's Cooper hospital on Saturday morning. With 'arti' thalis and sweets, the staff of Cooper hospital waited outside the facility to welcome the first beneficiaries of the vaccination drive. (PTI)
Our vaccination programme is driven by humanitarian concerns, those exposed to maximum risk get priority: PM Modi (PTI)
Scientists gave nod to two made-in-India vaccines after being sure of their effects, don't pay heed to rumours, propaganda: PM Modi to countrymen. (PTI)
This disease kept people away from their families. The mothers cried for their children & had to stay away. People could not meet their elderly admitted at hospitals. We could not bid adieu to those with proper rituals who died due to corona: PM Modi (ANI)
Such a vaccination drive at such a massive scale was never conducted in history. There are over 100 countries having less than 3 crore population and India is administering vaccination to 3 crore people in first phase only. In second phase, we've to take this number to 30 crores: PM Modi (ANI)
I request you not to make the mistake of taking off the mask and not maintaining social distancing after getting the first dose because immunity develops after the second dose: PM Narendra Modi (ANI)
I want to remind people of the country that two doses of the Corona vaccine are very important. Experts have said that there should be a gap of one month between both vaccinations: PM Narendra Modi (ANI)
Normally, it takes many years to make a vaccine but in such a short span of time, not one, but two 'Made in India' vaccines are ready. Meanwhile, the work on other vaccines is progressing at a fast pace: PM Narendra Modi (ANI)
PM Narendra Modi has launched pan-India vaccination drive. "Everyone was asking as to when the vaccine will be available. It is available now. I congratulate all the countrymen on this occasion," PM Narendra Modi said. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive shortly, through video conference. (ANI)