Daily US Times: A sanitation worker became the first in India to receive a coronavirus vaccine as the country began the world’s largest vaccination drive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the world’s largest vaccination drive, which aims to vaccinate more than 1.3 billion people against Covid-19.
Mr Modi paid tribute to front-line workers who will be the first to receive jabs.
India has recorded the second-highest number of Covid infections in the world after the United States.
Millions of doses of two approved vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield – were shipped across the country in the days leading up to the start of the drive.
Mr Modi said: “We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability,” addressing the country on Saturday morning.
He added that India was well prepared to roll out the vaccination with the help of an app, which would help the government track the drive and ensure that nobody was left out.
The Prime Minister spoke at length about doctors, nurses and other front-line workers “who showed us the light” in “dark times”.
“They stayed away from their families to serve humanity. And hundreds of them never went home. They gave their life to save others. And that is why the first jabs are being given to healthcare workers – this is our way of paying respect to them,” Mr Modi said.
Mr Modi also appealed Indians to continue adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols like following social distancing and wearing masks. The Indian Prime Minister said the country can not afford to be complacent as vaccinating the entire population will take time.
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