New Delhi: The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today morning. The vaccination drive has sett off India on the path towards overcoming the pandemic that has upended lives, ravaged the economy and unleashed unprecedented suffering over the last 10 months.
During the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Indian frontline workers and scientists and warned against falling for propaganda or rumours over vaccines. Giving India a new motto – “Dawai bhi, Kadai bhi (Vaccine as well as discipline)” – PM Modi also cautioned that even after vaccination, citizens must stay vigilant and maintain all precautions against the virus, including masks and distancing.
India’s drive is one of the world’s biggest vaccination programmes, aimed at inoculating 3 crore health and other frontline workers to start with. Two shots manufactured in India, one developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and the other by Bharat Biotech, are being injected.
The Prime Minister stressed that people should not fall for propaganda over vaccines, amid controversy over Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, which has been cleared for emergency use while still in clinical trial.
“The DGCI (Drug Controller General of India) gave approval after they were satisfied with the data of the two vaccines. So stay away from rumours,” PM Modi said.
