PM Modi receives second Covid vaccine jab, urges people to get inoculated

PM Modi had received the first dose on March 1 when the second phase of nationwide vaccination began.

Tweeting his photo, Prime Minister said vaccination is among the few ways to defeat the virus.

"Got my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS today. Vaccination is among the few ways we have, to defeat the virus. If you are eligible for the vaccine, get your shot soon," PM Modi tweeted and shared a link to the CoWin website, a portal to register for the vaccine.

PM Modi has taken the home-grown Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), which has been linked to vaccine hesitancy because of its clinical trial status.

The prime minister's second vaccine dose was administered by two nurses, one of whom had given him his first shot as well. P Niveda, who was the main nurse last time, was seen holding PM Modi's arm in the photo while Nisha Sharma administered the dose.

Apart from Covaxin, Pune-based Serum Institute's Covishield developed in partnership with Oxford University and pharma giant AstraZeneca is being used in the vaccination drive which began on January 16 this year.

India has been expanding its vaccination programme gradually. The country had started inoculations with frontline and health workers and went on to people above 60 and those over 45 with other illnesses. In the latest round, all above 45 are being vaccinated. So far, over eight crore people have been vaccinated.

So far, over 8.83 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in India, the health ministry said.