The first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive will cover three crore healthcare and frontline workers across the length and breadth of India.
India is starting its COVID-19 vaccination drive today (January 16) as an important deterrent to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The world's largest vaccination programme in India will take place in all the states and union territories across the length and breadth of the country.
The first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive will cover three crore healthcare and frontline workers, as they are getting vaccinated first in this drive. The vaccine is provided free of cost for this targeted phase.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier approved the Serum Institute of India's Covishield (developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca) and Bharat Biotech's indigenously developed Covaxin for restricted emergency use, which has led to the vaccination drive.
As preparations are completed and the vaccination drive in India begins, check these pics from across the country.
1. BMC staff prepares for COVID-19 vaccine drive
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The staff at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai prepare to start the vaccinations today after being one of the worst affected cities due to COVID-19 in the country. (Image: ANI)
2. COVID-19 vaccine centre in Bhubaneswar
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The dry runs for the COVID-19 vaccination drive were conducted across many sites throughout the country for effective preparation and implementation strategies.
3. Madhya Pradesh begins vaccination drive
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The COVID-19 vaccines have been deployed across all the states and union territories in the country. The doses will be administered daily from 9 am to 5 pm, but for the days when routine immunisation programmes take place.
4. COVID-19 vaccine doses in Tezpur
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Both the vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being kept in a temperature-controlled environment to keep them from going bad after getting transported to the storage centres. (Image: ANI)
5. Registration for the vaccine in Noida
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Registrations are taking place for the healthcare workers in the hospitals, as the vaccination drive starts in the National Capital Region.
