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PM Modi also sought to dispel fears and misconceptions over the efficacy and safety of Covid vaccines. “When doctors and health workers give a clean chit to the vaccine, it sends a very strong message among people about the efficacy of the shots,” he said through video conference.
Health practitioners who have been vaccinated against coronavirus or have administering the shots to others took part, sharing their first-hand experiences. “Really, corona warriors have done a wonderful job,” Modi said in the 30-minute interaction during which a hospital matron, a nurse, a lab technician and a doctor asserted that there were no side effects after they were vaccinated.
The interaction came against the backdrop of authorities grappling with hesitancy over the vaccination, with many health workers not turning up to get themselves inoculated at their assigned centres. “The world’s largest vaccination drive is underway in India. Our frontline warriors are getting vaccinated across the nation,” Modi had tweeted on Thursday.
“This interaction would give first hand opportunity to hear their experiences as well as feedback,” he had said. The prime minister had launched the nationwide inoculation drive on January 16 with over three crore healthcare and frontline workers prioritised to get the jabs initially.
Earlier in the day, the health ministry said that India vaccinated nearly 10.5 lakh people till day 6 of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccine drive — “more than many other countries”. This comes a day after India achieved another feat by delivering two million doses of Serum Institute’s ‘Covishield’ vaccine to Bangladesh and one million doses to Nepal under grants assistance, while commercial supply will begin today with shipments to Brazil and Morocco. According to reports, the jabs have already arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
It is learnt that two million doses each will be sent as commercial supplies to Brazil and Morocco, while a consignment of 1.5 million doses of Covishield will be delivered to Myanmar, 50,000 doses to Seychelles and another shipment of 1,00,000 doses is slated to arrive in Mauritius on Friday as part of India’s grant assistance.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka tweeted that a “gift of 2 million” made-in-India COVID-19 vaccine was handed over to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AKA Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque by Indian envoy Vikram Doraiswami. The Indian embassy in Kathmandu said a total of one million doses of vaccines was handed over to Nepal in reflection of India’s abiding friendship and commitment towards people of the country.
On Wednesday, India sent 1,50,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan and 1,00,000 doses to the Maldives. In a major announcement, India on Tuesday said it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday. Supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances, it said.
India is one of the world’s biggest drugmakers and an increasing number of countries have already being approaching it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines. India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country. While Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech. The MEA said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.
India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic. Sources said training in administering COVID-19 vaccines was provided to healthcare professionals of Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bahrain, Brazil, Mauritius, Morocco, Oman, Seychelles and Sri Lanka on Tuesday and Wednesday.
They said national and provincial-level officials, people handling cold chains and partners from WHO and UNICEF were part of the training. “The key topics covered were COVID-19 disease and vaccines, conducting COVID-19 vaccination, logistics and cold chain management, safe injection practices and waste management,” said a source.
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