COVID vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi launches largest inoculation drive in India

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the vaccination centre at BKC Jumbo COVID19 hospital in Mumbai

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: 'Many eminent doctors have raised questions with regard to the efficacy & safety of COVAXIN with govt saying that people will not be able to choose as to which vaccine they would like to take. This goes against the entire doctrine of informed consent. If the vaccine is so safe & reliable & efficacy of the vaccine is beyond question then how is it that not a single functionary of the government has stepped forward to get themselves vaccinated as it has happened in other countries around the world?': Congress MP Manish Tewari questions vaccine

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: 'Phase 3 trial still going on. Phase 3 trial of even Pfizer, Moderna is still going on but look at the data, benefits are overwhelming compared to risk. The world has decided to move forward, take benefit & ensure what's needed in this stage. Safety proven without doubt on thousands & thousands of individuals. We should respect the scientific processes that unfolded in extremely different, difficult & unusual circumstances. Today 2 great vaccines are available. Whatever vaccine you're allotted, please take it': NITI Aayog VK Paul 

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India: "I wish India & PM Modi ji great success in launching the world’s largest COVID vaccination roll-out."

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Sachin Tendulkar wishes Indians on Largest vaccination drive 

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan shows a dose of COVAXIN developed by Bharat Biotech at AIIMS

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: I am very happy and satisfied today. We have been fighting against COVID-19 in PM's leadership for the last one year. This vaccine will work as a 'sanjeevani' in the fight against COVID-19, which has entered the final stage: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

COVID vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker, becomes the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS, Delhi in presence of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES:  PM Modi launches nationwide Covid vaccination drive 

COVID vaccination LIVE UPDATES: BJP chief JP Nadda lauds India's largest vaccine drive, salutes health workers 

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi says Janta Curfew prepared citizens for lockdown psychologically  

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi says that India brought back each and every Indian back from China while few countries had left them deserted. "At a time when some countries had left their citizens amid increasing cases of coronavirus in China, India brought back every Indian trapped in China. And not only of India, we also brought back citizens of many other countries from there"

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi details the steps taken by the government as pandemic begins. PM Modi said that last year on January 17 India began screening. "Corona pandemic tested our patience and we have come out victorious. We used taali, thaali and kept ourselves going. It was impossible to keep such a big population inside their homes. We had analysed what effect lockdown would have on our economy. But we followed - Jaan hai toh jahan hai."

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi hails Indian-origin vaccines

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi recalls the dreadful phase of COVID pandemic, salutes the efforts of healthcare workers. 

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi warns against rumours and propaganda regarding the two COVID vaccines 

COVID vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM modi highlights how India's vaccination drive is the largest in the world

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Do not forget to take all the doses of vaccines and remember, you don't have to give away your masks and social distancing after vaccination drive begins, says PM Modi. 

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Normally, it takes many years to make a vaccine but in such a short span of time, not one, but two 'Made in India' vaccines are ready, says PM Modi

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi addresses the nation ahead of launching vaccine rollout

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: Sadar Hospital in Jharkhand's Ranchi all set for the launch of the Covid-19 vaccination drive.

COVID Vaccination LIVE UPDATES: A total of 1,200 beneficiaries to get vaccine in 12 centres of Lucknow. CM Yogi is likely to arrive in KGMU and Balrampur hospital of Lucknow. First beneficiary of Covid vaccine in KGMU is Hukam Singh Negi.

Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy will be the first recipient of the vaccine today at 11 am at Apollo Vaccination Centre, Nungambakkam.

Ahead of the nationwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine rollout, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Friday, announced that the vaccination drive will be inaugurated by PM Modi at 10:30 AM on Saturday. He said that vaccination will be held at 3006 locations, inoculating 3 lakh health workers in the 'world's biggest vaccine programme'.  The government has already purchased 1.1 crore COVISHIELD vaccine doses and 55 lakh COVAXIN vaccine shots - aiming to vaccinate 3 crore frontline warriors, in the first phase.

"For the last 5 months, all experts were engaged in this work - preparing Covid war-room and communication war-room, we are prepared. World's biggest vaccination drive will begin in India with 1/6th of the world's population. This is the beginning of the end of COVID. Both indigenously manufactured vaccines given emergency use approval after scientific scrutiny," said Dr. Vardhan.

 The Centre has stated that Serum Institute of India (SII)'s COVISHIELD will cost Rs 200 per dose while COVAXIN's 38 lakh shots will cost Rs 295/dose with 16.50 lakh COVAXIN doses were provided free of cost. With the two doses spaced by 4 weeks, Centre said that inoculation effect takes 14 days to develop after the administration of the two dosages. Centre has clarified that vaccine beneficiaries will not have a choice to choose between the available vaccines, as it was being done by all countries.

Vaccine rollout will begin from January 16 across India with the help of  61,000 programme managers, 2 lakh vaccinators and 3.7 lakh other vaccination team members. Delivery of both COVISHIELD and COVAXIN vaccine shots have been completed at various states. Centre has completed two nationwide 'dry runs' across 700+ districts in India successfully. Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation to vaccines of Serum Institue of India (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin).

On Tuesday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that vaccine beneficiaries will not have a choice to choose between the available vaccines, as it was being done by all countries. With over 54 lakh Covishield doses received till 4 pm Tuesday at designated national, state-level vaccine stores, Centre said that order for more doses will be placed in a staggered manner, as discussed between the vaccine manufacturers and the government. Meanwhile, ICMR chief Dr. Balram Bhargava said, "During the first phase, the time gap between the doses will be 28 days, till more knowledge is obtained".

Meanwhile, on Monday PM Modi assured that state governments will not have to bear the cost of vaccines to be injected to 3 crore frontline warriors in the first phase. While interacting with all state CMs on the vaccine rollout, PM Modi also announced the launch of the Co-WIN app which is mandatory for receiving the vaccine shot. The app is not yet available to the general public. The Prime Minister also opined that public representatives (MP and MLAs) must not get be included in the 1st phase of vaccination.

"State govts don't have to bear the cost of vaccine provided to 3 crore frontline warriors, it will be born by Indian government. Every state should ensure that no rumors should be spread in terms of the vaccination process. Around 3 crore healthcare workers and frontline workers will be vaccinated in the first phase of vaccination. In the 2nd phase, those above 50 years and those under 50 years with co-morbid conditions will be vaccinated. Health workers - govt as well as private - will be vaccinated first of all. Sanitation workers, other frontline workers, defence forces, Police and other paramilitary forces will also be vaccinated in the first phase," said PM Modi.

On Sunday, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) VG Somani announced that the vaccines of Serum Institue of India (Covishield) and Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) have been granted permission for restricted use in an emergency situation. Covishield - a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine - has an efficacy of 70.42%, with interim safety and immunogenicity data of Phase-II/III trials submitted to the SEC. 50 million doses have been stockpiled by SII - 10 doses in each vial.

Meanwhile, Covaxin - a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine - 22,500 participants vaccinated in Phase-III trials and was found to be safe as per the data available till date. On Thursday, Bharat Biotech (BBL)  said that the company had completed its phase-3 clinical trials enrollment of 25,800 participants. As informed by the ICMR, BBL has already administered 24,000 volunteers with the first shot of its vaccine and 5000 have been adminstered with the second dose - with no adverse events being found. 20 million doses have been stocked - 20 doses in each vial. Both vaccines' phase-3 trials are ongoing.

MOHFW has written to all states and UTs highlighting the dos & don'ts of inoculation:

• Women who are pregnant or lactating currently should not be administered the vaccine shots as they have not been a part of any anti-Coronavirus vaccine clinical trial so far.
• The interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines is not permitted.
• Under the emergency use authorisation, the COVID-19 vaccine is indicated only for 18 years and above.
• If required, the Coronavirus vaccine and other vaccines should be separated by an interval of at least 14 days. 

Precautions and contraindications for Coronavirus vaccination along with a comparative factsheet for both the vaccines (SII's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin) have been released by Centre.

• Listing the contradictions, the Ministry cautioned against the administration of the vaccine in people with a history of an anaphylactic or allergic reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and in those with immediate or delayed onset of anaphylaxis or allergic reaction to vaccines or injectable therapies, pharmaceutical products, food items, among others. 
• In case of people having active symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, Coronavirus infected patients who have been given anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma and acutely unwell and hospitalised patients due to any illness, the COVID-19 vaccination is to be deferred to 4-8 weeks after recovery. 

COVID vaccination preparations in Telangana  

COVID vaccination preparations in across India

Health workers clap and cheer as COVID-19 vaccine reaches the vaccination centre at Cooper hospital in Mumbai 

Dr Ashok Seth from Fortis talks about COVID vaccine and its mega launch