Vaccine drive accelerates, doses reach far corners of India

Covid vaccine: How many Indians got jab on Day 1? Govt reveals

At least 1,65,714 healthcare beneficiaries received COVID-19 jab on Saturday across India, marking it as a historic and biggest COVID-19 vaccination drive launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. About 16,755 total vaccinators involved across India during the COVID vaccination drive. There was no post adverse event reported after the vaccination was administered to the people. "Total vaccinators involved across India were 16,755. Total beneficiaries vaccinated across India--1,65,714. COVID19 vaccination drive was successful on Day 1. No case of post-vaccination hospitalisation reported so far," said Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry. "The Serum Institute of India (SII) produced COVISHIELD was supplied to all States and Union Territories (UT). Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN was supplied to 12 States. Total 3,351 sessions were held across the country with both the vaccines, said Health Ministry on COVID19 vaccine roll-out," he added. Watch the full video for more details.

First feeling, side-effects, doubts: Vaccinated doctors share experience

On Day 1 of India's Covid-19 vaccination, two doctors who took the shots shared their experience. Dr Atul Peters and Anil Dhar of Max hospital were given Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and SII-made Covishield jabs respectively. Both didn't experience any side-effects and said that doubts regarding the inoculants are unfounded. Dr Suranjit Chatterjee of Apollo hospital, who is set to receive a shot soon, also weighed in on the controversy regarding Covaxin and its third phase trials. Watch the full video for more.

Covid: Dr VK Paul, AIIMS director urge people to trust researchers on vaccine

Urging the people to have faith in India's researchers, scientists, regulatory authorities, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Singh Guleria on Saturday reassured the nation that Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN vaccine is safe. Dr Guleria along with NITI Aayog member VK Paul were administered the COVID-19 vaccine shot at AIIMS Delhi on the inaugural day of the nationwide roll-out of vaccination on Saturday. Talking about the experience, he said, "I am humbled to get vaccinated in the first slot and feel so proud. I hope more and more people come forward when it comes to getting vaccinated so that we can reduce mortality and prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection." Dr VK Paul said that the vaccine is safe and people should trust the scientific process. Watch the full video for more details.

Vaccines approved only after testing: G Kishan Reddy confident of efficacy

Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy inaugurated vaccination drive at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on January 16. On the rumours around the efficacy of the vaccine, G Kishan Reddy said that medicines tested in other countries are considered good but when our scientists toil and develop made in India medicines, people view it like that. He further assured that vaccines have been approved only after testing."I request people to not say such things. Medicines tested in other countries are considered good but when our scientists toil and develop made in India medicines, people view it like that. I request not to discuss things like this. Vaccines have been approved only after testing. I say this confidently that the vaccines will benefit everyone," said MoS Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy.

COVID-19 vaccination drive begins in India

The mega COVID-19 vaccination drive began in India on January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the drive and around 100 healthcare workers will get vaccinated at each session site on the inaugural day. Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker, became the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS. In the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination drive, healthcare workers will receive the vaccine. The beneficiaries reached to their respective health centres. Two COVID vaccines have been approved in India- Pune-based SII's 'Covishield' and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin'.

Mega COVID vaccination drive to begin in India today

The mega COVID-19 vaccination drive will begin in India on January 16. The preparations are underway at health centres across the country. Hyderabad's Nampally area hospital is all decked up to begin the drive today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the vaccination drive today via video-conferencing.

Bharat Biotech vaccine could've advantage over others on new strain, hopes ICMR DG

Director General of ICMR, Dr. Balram Bhargava, said that indigenously developed Bharat Biotech vaccine might have some advantages over other vaccines on the new strain of COVID that was found in UK. He said, "NIV scientists have successfully isolated the new virus strain and this will be tested against different vaccines. We hope potentially Bharat Biotech vaccine will have some advantages over other vaccines on this new strain because it is a whole virus." "New virus variant which is now more than 60% infective and creating havoc in the UK is worrisome. There are 29 patients in India with the same variant for which we should be cautious. We have been able to isolate the new virus very soon," added Dr. Balram Bhargava.

PGIMER sends 80 random samples to Pune to check for new virus strain

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Director Jagat Ram said that the institute has sent 80 random samples of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 since September to National Institute of Virology, Pune to ascertain if there is mutation in the virus. The PGIMER director informed that 20 samples each from the last four months have been sent.

India records 13,788 new COVID cases in last 24 hours

As per the data released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India on January 18 reported single-day spike of 13,788 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. 145 deaths in the same period pushed the COVID-19 toll in the country to 1,52,419. India's confirmed cases of coronavirus stand at 1,05,71,773 which include 2,08,012 active infections. More than 1,02,11,342 people have recovered from the virus with 14,457 new discharges in last 24 hours. According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 5,48,168 samples were tested on January 17. Cumulative samples tested for COVID-19 till January 17 are 18,70,93,036.

COVID-19: Total cases cross 1.05 crore-mark in India

On January 16, total COVID-19 tally of India reached to 1,05,42,841. The country reported 15,158 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours and active cases stands at 2,11,033. With new 16,977 discharges, total number reached to 1,01,79715. 175 deaths were reported in last 24 hours, taking cumulative toll to 1,52,093. According to ICMR, total number of samples tested up to 11th January is 18,57,65,491 and of these, 8,03,090 samples were tested yesterday.

COVID-19: Active cases in India dip to 2,10,l06

On January 15, India reported 15,677 new COVID-19 cases and 189 deaths in last 24 hours. The active cases stands at 2,10,l06. With new 15,848 discharges, total number reached to 1,01,62,082. 189 deaths were reported in last 24 hours, taking cumulative toll to 1,51,954. According to ICMR, total number of samples tested up to 14th January is 18,49,62,401 and of these, 7,30,096 samples were tested yesterday.