TMC MP politicises PM Modi's vaccination; says 'Publicity defeats Medical science'

Politcising PM Modi getting his 1st vaccine dose, Trinamool MP Shantanu Sen on Monday, claimed that the PM's jab was 'publicity', adding that 'Photograph is more important than Protocol'. Commenting on PM Modi's changed appearance, he claimed that the PM's 'newly grown Rabindrik beard' would have become invisible if he had worn a mask. Adding 'God save India', the Trinamool MP added that Mamata Banerjee was 'saving Bengal'. Several other politicians like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Akhilesh Yadav have politicised vaccination as a BJP 'stunt'.

Bharat Biotech responds as PM Modi takes its Covaxin Covid vaccine; 'will inspire masses'

Trinamool MP politicises PM's vaccination

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PM Modi receives Covid-19 vaccine

Kicking off phase-2 of India's COVID vaccination programme, Prime Minister Modi received his first jab of the vaccine on Monday at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Sporting an Assamese Gamcha, PM Modi sent a political signal to poll-bound states, getting jabbed by nurses- Sister Niveda & sister Rosamma hailing from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu respectively. After the jab, he appealed to all those citizens eligible for the jab to get vaccinated. As of date, 13,561,208 doses have been administered across India at 49,976 sites.

'Very nice to see Sir': Nurse Sister Rosamma talks through giving PM Modi Covid vaccine

Phase 2 of the vaccination drive begins

The second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program started at over 10,000 designated government facilities and 20,000 private hospitals and vaccination centers on Monday. While the first phase of the Coronavirus vaccination drive focused on healthcare and frontline workers, the second phase is dedicated to those above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with co-morbidities - registered on the CO-WIN website, which went live at 9:00 AM, March 1. The Union Ministry announced that the pricing for a COVID-19 vaccine dose has been capped at Rs 250 at private hospitals. Meanwhile, like the first phase, doses will be available free of cost at government centers with the Centre bearing the cost of the inoculation.

MoS Health praises PM Modi for taking COVAXIN; slams Opposition for misleading the nation

On January 3, 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. 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. Meanwhile, Zydus-Cadilla's nCov-Vaccine using DNA platform technology has been allowed to conduct Phase-III clinical trial in 26000 Indian participants. Apart from these vaccines, another vaccine candidate - Sputnik V - produced by Russian government-Dr. Reddy's Labs has applied for emergency use and Bharat Biotech has sought to conduct phase-1 trials of nasal COVID-19 vaccine.