Distribution of COVID-19 vaccine in India will start from January 16. In the first phase, the vaccine will be given to 300 million people, including health workers and frontline workers. Subsequently, the central government announced that about 27 crore people, including those over 50 years of age and those under 50 years of age with serious illness , will be vaccinated.
The decision was taken at a high – level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to assess the situation in the country and preparations for vaccine distribution. The meeting was attended by senior officials including the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary.
Covishield, manufactured by the Pune Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN have been approved for immediate use in the country. Dry runs were also organized across the country prior to the implementation of vaccination.