NEW DELHI, Jan 18, 2021 (BSS) – India’s top cardiac surgeon and
Founder Chairman of Narayan Healthcare Dr Devi Shetty was administered
the Covid-19 vaccine “Covishield” in Bengaluru, the capital city of
India’s southern state of Karnataka, today.
“I fell proud after taking the vaccine. I am very very proud for my
nation. I am proud today as I am an Indian,” Dr Shetty told media
minutes after receiving the first shot of the vaccine developed by
Oxford AstraZeneca and manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII).
On apprehensions that surround the vaccine and the challenges that
lie ahead, he said “all Indian should be very proud for the country
and the government the way it has worked in developing the vaccine”.
In this context, he said every Indians must know that only five
countries in the world have the capability to make vaccine and “we are
one of them”.
He continued, “Now the task left on us to vaccinate half of the
country’s population by next two months with more than 34,700 nurses,”
he said adding that he was confident to make it possible during the
period.
Official data shows that a total of 2,24,301 beneficiaries have been
inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine across India till last evening.
India’s vaccination drive, the world’s largest immunisation
exercise against Covid-19, kicked off on Saturday with priority to
about 30 million health care and frontline workers to be inoculated in
the first phase.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the pan India rollout of
COVID-19 vaccination drive through video conferencing.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month
approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum
Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for
restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive
inoculation drive. The cost of vaccination of healthcare and frontline
workers will be borne by the Indian government.