COVID-19 vaccination drive underway in Northeast; healthcare workers receive first shot

India launched one of the world’s largest coronavirus vaccination drive against COVID-19 on Saturday. Around 3 crore people will be inoculated on priority basis in the first phase, including healthcare

India launched one of the world’s largest coronavirus vaccination drive against COVID-19 on Saturday. Around 3 crore people will be inoculated on priority basis in the first phase, including healthcare & sanitation workers, and police & armed personnel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the campaign as part of efforts by the country to bring the pandemic under control starting with two locally-manufactured vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, developed by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, respectively.

In the Northeast, the vaccination drive is being carried out smoothly and reports are coming in from different States.

According to News On Air, Dr. Suresh Madan Rasaily, Head of Department of Medicine in STNM hospital and nodal officer of Clinical Excellence of COVID-19 hospital received the first vaccine in Sikkim.

Health workers from Tripura also received COVID-19 vaccines in Agartala. The drive is underway at Gandhigram Primary Health Centre in West district of Tripura.

In Arunachal Pradesh, vaccination is underway at Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Science (TRIHMS), Naharlagun.

Lalmuanpuii, a healthcare staff at Aizawl Civil Hospital received the first vaccine in Mizoram.

In Meghalaya, vaccination is underway at 10 session sites. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was present at NEIGRIHMS Hospital to monitor the vaccination process.

Conrad Sangma taking to Twitter said, “As PM @narendramodi  launched the #LargestVaccineDrive, visited NEIGRIMS Hospital, Shillong which is 1 of the 10 sites in #Meghalaya that will conduct the vaccination drive. Over 832 healthcare workers will be administered the #Covishield vaccine in our State.”

Along with the rest of the country, vaccination drive in Manipur was carried out at 10 sites across the State.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister N Biren Singh termed the day as historic.

“Historic #COVID19Vaccination starts in Manipur today as it is being done all over India. 9617 health care workers of the State will be vaccinated at 10 sites all over the State in the first phase,” Singh tweeted.

In Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the vaccination drive at the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh.

Sonowal tweeted, “Honoured to launch the #COVID19 vaccination drive at AMCH, Dibrugarh. Under the dynamic leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi  Ji, the nation today is undergoing the #LargestVaccineDrive and it will empower us to fight coronavirus with renewed vigour and defeat it.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio launched the pan-India rollout of COVID-19 vaccination drive in Nagaland.

“Attended launch of pan-India rollout of COVID19 #vaccination drive by@narendramodi ji via VC. Also launched #COVID19Vaccine for Nagaland. As we join the country in the world’s largest vaccination prog., I hope it’ll be the beginning of restoring communities to wholeness & health,” Rio tweeted.

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