Big Announcement: India to begin Covid vaccination drive from 16 January, says PM Modi

Jan. 9: The nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive in India will begin from January 16, the government said on Saturday. The roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines will provide priority to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers who are estimated to be around 3 crore, followed by those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crore.

The decision to begin the nationwide vaccination drive from next week was made after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review Covid-19 situation in the country. In a tweet on 9 January evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis.”

On 16th January, India takes a landmark step forward in fighting COVID-19. Starting that day, India’s nation-wide vaccination drive begins. Priority will be given to our brave doctors, healthcare workers, frontline workers including Safai Karamcharis. https://t.co/P5Arw64wVt

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2021

The health ministry said in a statement on Saturday wrote, “After the detailed review, it was decided that in view of the forthcoming festivals including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu etc., the COVID19 vaccination will start from 16th January 2021.”

The Prime Minister was also apprised about the Co-WIN Vaccine Delivery Management System, which is a unique digital platform to provide real-time information of vaccine stocks, their storage temperature and individualized tracking of beneficiaries of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of all states on Monday to discuss plans on the Covid-19 vaccine roll out and the pandemic situation across the country. The meeting will be held through a video-link on Monday evening.

On January 3, India’s drug regulator had granted restricted emergency use authorisation to two vaccines against Covid-19 – Covishield developed by AstraZeneca and manufactured by Serum Institute and Covaxin developed and manufactured by homegrown vaccine maker Bharat Biotech.