Telangana clears 84% of day one's COVID-19 vaccination target
Out of the total 4,200 beneficiaries at 140 centres, with 30 beneficiaries at each centre, 3,530 beneficiaries were vaccinated until 3 pm. The beneficiaries were given Serum Institute manufactured Covishield.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 16 Jan 2021 12:51 PM GMT
Hyderabad: With the launch of India's COVID-19 vaccination drive, the world's largest inoculation exercise against the novel Coronavirus, Telangana completed 84 per cent of day one's vaccination target. Out of the total 4,200 beneficiaries at 140 centres, with 30 beneficiaries at each centre, 3,530 beneficiaries were vaccinated until 3 pm. The beneficiaries were given Serum Institute manufactured Covishield.
N. Krishnamma, a sanitation worker at the state-run Gandhi Hospital, who had recovered from COVID-19 was given the first dose of vaccine in the state.
Telangana Health Minister Eatala Rajender along with Minister for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and others participated in a vaccination drive at the Gandhi Hospital.
Only 20 minor reactions were recorded to the vaccine which included rashes, pain and redness on the site where the vaccine was administered.
The health minister said that it will take 42 days from Saturday for the complete immunity to build. People who got vaccinated should continue to follow the same precautions as before, the minister said.
The day for healthcare workers
At Kondapur Area Hospital, it was Dr K. Nagaraju who got the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. After getting his temperature and blood pressure checked, he registered himself on the Co-Win App. He was then sent to the vaccination room where the doctors fraternity welcomed him for the start of one of the largest vaccination drives. He was then administered the vaccine and sent to the observation room.
"There is nothing to worry about the COVID-19 vaccine. It is safe and when it will be available for everyone people should take it. It will help in breaking the COVID-19 chain," said Dr K Nagaraju, after coming out of the vaccination room.
Similarly, at the Kondapur Area Hospital, around 30 health workers of different departments, from nursing to dental, got vaccinated.
"The health workers are in the forefront in this pandemic which has changed the world. With the vaccine, we hope that life will become normal and people in the country will feel safe to come outside as before. Apart from a little discomfort, I felt nothing while taking the vaccination. I want to assure everyone that there is no harm in taking the vaccine," said K.S. Hemlatha, Head Nurse at the Kondapur Area Hospital.
Though there was some initial delay regarding the registrations and sending of OTPs it was eventually taken care of. The second dose will be given to the health workers after 28 days.
PM Launches pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccine via video conferencing on Saturday. This is the world's largest vaccination programme covering the entire length and breadth of the country. A total of 3,006 session sites across all states and UTs were virtually connected during the launch.
The prime minister started his speech by paying compliments to the scientists who were associated with the development of the vaccines. He said that usually it takes years to prepare a vaccine but in India, within such a short time, not one but two made-in-India vaccines were launched. The PM cautioned people about not missing on the second dose. He said that there will be a gap of one month between the doses. He asked people to keep their guard up even after taking the vaccine as it takes time for the immunity to build up.
