NEW DELHI, Jan 16: India launched its covid vaccination drive across the country at 10:30 am on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the mission through video conferencing.

"Everyone was asking as to when the vaccine will be available. It is available now. I congratulate all the countrymen on this occasion," Modi said. "Our vaccine developers have a global credibility. Life-saving vaccines given to 60% children globally are made in India." He said Indian vaccines were cheaper compared to the other global vaccines, which also required stringent conditions for storage.

Three lakh health workers will receive the vaccination on the first day with a hundred persons getting vaccinated at each of the 3,006 sites identified throughout the country per day. Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's indigenous Covaxin are being administered. A recipient cannot choose the free vaccine. Same vaccine must be repeated for a compulsory second dose after a gap of four weeks.

India plans to vaccinate 30 crore of its citizens within the next five months. In the first phase, one crore of health staff and two crores of frontline workers will be vaccinated. These three crores will get the vaccine free, Modi said.

Next 27 crore will receive the inoculation on a priority basis for which the States are preparing the broad modalities. Those aged and those with comorbidities will be on top of the priority list. Children below 18 years will not be vaccinated.

In case of any side-effects like the following lasting for longer than a few hours one may contact the doctor. Mostly these symptoms are normal for any vaccination as it builds up immunity.

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry had issued a notification providing the public with the necessary details about the covid vaccination. The relevant portions are:-

In need of any guidance, the Government of India says, call up Helpline No: 1075.