PM Narendra Modi leads the way, takes first Covid-19 shot as mass rollout begins

Took my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS, PM Modi said in a tweet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union ministers, chief ministers and senior political leaders received their first shot of Covid-19 vaccines on Monday as the second phase of the vaccination drive began.

The prime minister drove to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) early Monday morning where he was administered the first shot of home-grown Covaxin and issued an appeal to all those eligible to get vaccinated.

Modi’s brief visit to AIIMS was full of symbolism – both on healthcare and political fronts. By getting vaccinated using Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, the prime minister also sought to put at rest doubts over the safety of the home-grown vaccine.

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“Now, the vaccine hesitancy issue should be buried once for all,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

The first day of the expanded vaccination drive also saw some glitches with patients being turned away due to issues in registering on the Co-WIN software.

Modi also tried to send a message to voters in poll-bound states by sporting an Assamese 'gamosa' to AIIMS where he was administered the vaccine by P Niveda, a nurse from Puducherry with assistance from Rosamma Anil from Kerala.

“Took my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against Covid-19,” Modi tweeted after taking the vaccine shot.

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said the prime minister took the shot around 6.30 am and was kept under observation for half-and-hour as per protocol. His second dose is due after 28 days

India expanded its Covid-19 vaccine coverage on Monday by including everyone over 60 and those aged between 45-59 who have co-morbidities in the net.

Modi also used humour to put at ease the medical staff during the inoculation and asked the nurses whether they were planning to use some special thick needle as politicians were known to be “very thick-skinned”.

Read more: Politicians are known to be thick-skinned: PM's light-hearted poser to nurses at vaccination

Besides the prime minister, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, NCP chief Sharad Pawar also took their first shots of the vaccine.