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BIG STORY JANUARY 15, 2021 | The Indian Eye 6

vaccine against cOvid-19 : india first!

>> Continued from previous page... he added.
dy attended the launch of the Urging the people to have
COVID-19 vaccination pro- faith in India’s researchers, sci-
gramme at Government Gener- entists, regulatory authorities,
al Hospital, Vijayawada, while All India Institute of Medical
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Sciences (AIIMS) Director Dr
Shivraj Singh Chouhan attend- Randeep Singh Guleria on Sat-
ed the inaugural event at Gand- urday reassured the nation that
hi Hospital in Bhopal. Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN
In New Delhi, AIIMS Di- vaccine is safe.
rector Dr Randeep Singh Gule- “I want to reassure everyone
ria and NITI Aayog member that the vaccine (COVAXIN) is
VK Paul on Saturday were safe. It is efficacious. We have
administered the COVID-19 to vaccinate a huge number of
vaccine shot at AIIMS. Man- Frontline workers waiting for their turn for the first dose of Covishield people prevent the spread of
ish Kumar, a sanitation worker vaccine during the vaccination drive at Era's Lucknow Medical College and COVID-19 infection and there-
was the first person to receive Hospital in Lucknow on Friday (ANI) fore we can’t start being very
the COVID-19 vaccine jab at choosy. We must have confi-
AIIMS. Union Health Minister dence in our researchers, sci-
Harsh Vardhan was also present entists, and regulatory authori-
there on the occasion. ties,” he said while answering a
In the run up to the vaccina- question regarding the efficien-
tion program, there have been cy of Bharat Biotech’s vaccine.
many rumors and some degree Dr Guleria along with NITI
of skepticism too. But Dr Nan- Aayog member VK Paul were
dini Duggal, Head of Microbi- administered the COVID-19
ology at Delhi’s Ram Manohar vaccine shot at AIIMS Delhi on
Lohia Hospital, said vaccines the inaugural day of the nation-
are always made with a lot of wide roll-out of vaccination on
effort and Indian COVID-19 Saturday.
vaccines have been made after Talking about the experi-
plenty of study and research. ence, he said, “I am humbled
Dispelling the misinfor- to get vaccinated in the first slot
mation surrounding the safe- and feel so proud. I hope more
ty of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more people come for-
Dr Duggal told ANI, “There Health workers watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launch ward when it comes to getting
are certain tolerable reactions Covid-19 vaccine drive in Kolkata on Saturday. (ANI) vaccinated so that we can re-
(cough and little pain) that peo- duce mortality and prevent the
ple are bound to face. And they what little you might face after clinical trials of vaccines in oth- spread of COVID-19 infection.”
are well informed in advance.” the vaccines. Then the vaccine is er countries is still going on. Even as top doctors and sci-
Speaking about her experience administered.” “Phase 3 trial still going on. entists try to convince people
of getting vaccinated, she said, After taking COVID-19 vac- Phase 3 trial of even Pfizer, about the efficacy of vaccines,
“I felt no pain. It is unlike any cine at AIIMS Delhi on Satur- Moderna is still going on but there are some concerns about
other vaccine. For half an hour day NITI Aayog member VK look at the data, benefits are the pricing.
I was kept under observation. Paul said that the country has overwhelming compared to Punjab Chief Minister Ama-
It took barely 10 minutes. First, demonstrated that it can be risk. The world has decided to rinder Singh on Friday wrote to
the verification was done. Then ‘atmanirbhar’ in protecting its move forward, take benefit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi
all other procedures were ex- people by making vaccines in ensure what’s needed in this seeking free vaccine delivery to
plained to us.” a short span. “Today we have stage,” he said. the poor population of the state.
Talking about his experience demonstrated that we can be He further said that safety is Punjab will kickstart the pro-
after getting vaccinated, Nitin ‘atmanirbhar’ in protecting peo- proven without doubt on thou- cess of vaccination of 1.74 lakh
Choudhary, Assistant Professor ple of India, in a frontline tech- sands of individuals and that health workers with 40,000 to be
(Department of Anesthesia) nology like creating vaccines one should respect the scientific covered every day over the next
at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Insti- over a short period of time. We processes that unfolded in ex- five days in the first phase. The
tute of Medical Sciences, said, have two made in India vaccines tremely different, difficult and Chief Minister, while acknowl-
“Once you come here, they licensed today, both are great unusual circumstances. edging the receipt of 2,04,500
briefly tell you about the vacci- vaccines,” said Dr VK Paul. He “Today two great vaccines doses of Covishield vaccine,
nation process. Thereafter, they also urged people to embrace are available. Whatever vaccine thanked the PM Modi for mak-
give your consent to tell you vaccination, adding that the you’re allotted, please take it,” Continued on next page... >>

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