Mega COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Kick Starts In Hospitals With Full Vigour

Healthcare staff at various hospitals in New Delhi have participated in the World’s most extensive Covid-19 Vaccination Program started yesterday. Aimed at defeating this pandemic which has gripped the whole world over 60 healthcare workers got vaccinated yesterday. Senior Doctors and experienced staff were conducting dry runs and rigorous training of the health workers over the last few days and mark a historic day in this fight against COVID-19. The world's most extensive vaccination campaign will begin on Saturday with more than three lakh health workers being given COVID-19 vaccine doses on India's first day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the first phase of a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the country at 10:30 in the day through video conference. After receiving the 1st shot of Covid 19 Vaccine today, Jingam Karlo, Staff Nurse, Medeor Hospital said, “After a year-long fight with this pandemic, I am delighted to receive the initial shot of the vaccine today. I am the first fortunate member of the Medeor family to receive covid vaccine today. I am delighted and request everyone to get vaccinated and stay safe.”

Prime Minister on the vaccination program 

The Prime Minister's tweeted that this would be the world's most extensive vaccination program covering the entire country and all preparations have been made for its introduction on the principles of public participation. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan reviewed the nationwide vaccination campaign preparations and reviewed the COVID-19 control room built in Nirman Bhawan's premises of the Ministry of Health. Ms Julie Shaju, Nursing Head, Medeor Hospital, says “I have been serving patients over the last twenty years and have seen lots of life-threatening terminal illnesses, but this novel coronavirus has even shocked us. It was unbearable to see patients' pain and their family members' emotional trauma who could not sit next to their ailing dear ones. At last, our nurses are relieved and excited to be among the first batch of the recipient of the vaccine.”

Health Ministry on vaccine

The health ministry said that vaccine supplements would be given to the priority group people in a phased manner. Vaccines will be provided to health workers working in private and government sector, including Integrated Child Development Services personnel in this phase. Harsh Vardhan said that India's vaccination campaign against COVID-19 would be the largest in the world. Dr Upali Nanda, Head- Preventive Health & Consultant- Medicine, said, “Staff and Doctors have been working round the clock conducting dry runs under the supervision of senior-level government officials. Constant Training of the staff & virtual meetings has put the system in place and the 1st day of vaccination drive was highly successful at Medeor Hospital with active participation and encouraging response by our staff to fight covid-19.” Amongst the hospitals' list, Medeor Hospital is one of the hospitals identified by the Health Ministry for the vaccination drive in Delhi.

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COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination initiation

Union and State Territories have been asked to keep 10 per cent doses safe and vaccinate 100 people in a session a day. A call centre-1075 has also been created to answer questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination initiation. Dr VGR Shastry, Medical Superintendent and Chairman – Emergency Medicine, Medeor Hospital, said “Team at Hospital are enthusiastic about continuing the responsibility of serving humankind by taking the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. All our Doctors, Nursing and support staff, are being vaccinated in the first phase starting from Saturday 16th January. As an ex-army doctor, I have seen many casualties on the war front, but this tiny coronavirus has shaken many people and their families' lives and livelihood. Today, with the arrival of the vaccine, I can visualize the end of the long-fought war against Covid19.”

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