Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi and appealed to all those who are eligible to get inoculated. Sister P Niveda, from Puducherry, administered Bharat Biotech's Covaxin to the prime minister. She was assisted by Malayali nurse Rosamma Anil, who hails from Thodupuzha.
“Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19,” Modi tweeted after taking the vaccine shot. “I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together, let us make India COVID-19 free!” he said.
The prime minister also posted a picture of himself taking the first dose of the vaccine. Sister Niveda and Rosamma can be seen in the picture posted by Modi.
The government had announced that the second phase of coronavirus vaccination is starting in India today (March 1). Everyone above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities will be able to get Covid-19 vaccine from March 1 for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals.
Self-registration will open 9 am onwards on the upgraded Co-WIN website, and will be open till 3 pm for same-day appointments. Citizens can also register, book appointments via the Arogya Setu app
“Citizens will be able to register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the Co-WIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Aarogya Setu etc.,” said Union health and family welfare ministry, in a statement.
According to the health ministry’s Co-WIN guidelines, one person will be able to register only three more eligible persons using their mobile phone number.
Those with specified comorbidities will have to produce a medical certificate attested by a registered medical practitioner at the time of vaccination at the chosen Covid vaccine centre.
The vaccine will be available free of cost at government hospitals and at a capped price of ₹250 per dose at private hospitals.
"There will be only one live appointment for a beneficiary at any point of time for each dose." Appointments for any date for a COVID Vaccination Center will be closed at 3 pm on that day for which the slots were opened," the Ministry said.
However, an appointment can also be booked for any future date for which vaccination slots are available. The government has listed seven photo identification documents that can be used for online registration. It includes a passport, driving license and PAN card.
A slot for the second dose will also be booked at the same COVID Vaccination Centre on the 29th day of the date of appointment of the 1st dose. If a beneficiary cancels a first dose appointment, then the appointment of both doses will be cancelled, the Ministry said.
Meanwhile, a total of 3,254 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Kerala on Sunday. Eighteen states including Kerala, Maharasthra and Telangana have come under the scanner of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), a Central agency for disease surveillance and prevention. The NCDC has asked these states to keep an eye out for cases with variants arriving here from other countries as the tally of people infected from such strains has reached 194 in the country, as per the latest figures shared by the Union Health Ministry.
