President of India Ram Nath Kovind was administered the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the Army R&R Hospital in New Delhi on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by his daughter.
The President thanked doctors, nurses, health workers and administrators who were implementing India’s vaccination drive, and urged other eligible citizens to get inoculated.
A number of top political leaders are set to receive their first shots today. Earlier in the day, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was administered the vaccine at a Primary Health Centre in Sanquelim.
With over 50 lakh beneficiaries registering for Covid-19 vaccination since the second phase of the inoculation drive started on Monday, the Centre on Tuesday directed states to utilise all private hospitals, including those that are not empanelled under government health insurance schemes, for the vaccination exercise.
The Centre has also permitted hospitals to extend their vaccination sessions in consultation with state governments. States and hospitals have been directed to “open vaccination slots for 15 days to a month”. Currently, beneficiaries applying on the Co-WIN portal can only find slots for a week.
Surjitt Sahani
