PM Modi says India ready to start vaccinating from Jan 16, asks leaders to not 'jump queue'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is holding a meeting with chief ministers of all states to review the Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan set to begin this week, said in the meeting that India will begin "world's largest vaccination program" from January 16.

PM Modi said that two "Made in India" vaccines have been given emergency use approval.

India has authorised two Covid-19 vaccines - indigenous Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin or even the Oxford-Astra Zeneca & Serum Institute of India vaccine Covishield for emergency use. The first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive is expected to start by January 16 with health care workers, frontline workers and the elderly.

The meeting, being held virtually, is aimed at reviewing the coordination between Centre and the states and to ensure efficient delivery of vaccination and efficient management of drive. The meeting is also being attended by Home Minister Amit Shah.

On vaccine distribution, PM Modi said that first corona warriors will be vaccinated, followed by front line workers.

"Health workers, government as well as private, will be vaccinated first of all. Sanitation workers, other frontline workers, defence forces, police and other paramilitary forces will also be vaccinated in the first phase," PM Modi said during his interacts with CMs of all states.

"We are now in a decisive stage and from January 16, we are starting world's largest vaccination drive. Two vaccines got emergency use approval and four more [vaccines] are in the process. For the second phase, probably we will have more vaccines," PM Modi said in the meeting with chief ministers

The prime minister added that the call for vaccination process to begin as been taken after "scientific validation" and their final opinion.

He also said that both the vaccines -- Covishield and Covaxin -- are "more cost-effective", adding that dependency on foreign vaccines could have been costly for us.

PM Modi further said that the priority category for vaccination program was decided after deliberation with states, i.e. health workers, sanitation workers, police, paramilitary, civil defence, all of whom are around 3 crore in total.

These 3 crore people will get vaccines absolutely free and states will not have to bear the cost, PM Modi said, adding that the aim is to vaccinate 30 crore people in the next few months.

PM Modi also urged states and Union Territory to "kill rumours" and fake news and stressed on ensuring that politicians don’t jump the queue and take the vaccine only when their turn comes.

"All States and UTs must ensure that rumours around the vaccination programme are not allowed to spread. Corporate competition and vested interests of certain lobbies within and outside country may be at work to fuel the rumours," PM Modi said.

What political leaders said after PM-CMs' meet

After the PM-CMs' meeting on vaccine rollout, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that besides making all preparations, India built a platform to share vaccine with other countries and emerged as a global leader in providing vaccine. He added that the portal by government of India -- CoWIN -- to deliver vaccine is an example of the capability of India's IT.

"The scientists of India have proven that the vaccine is absolutely safe. It will build antibodies and immunity. No one should be doubtful whether they should get vaccinated or not," Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel said that no leader or MP will take the vaccine in the first phase. Till the time vaccine is provided to the front line workers, no leader will take the vaccine, HE SAID.

"No BJP chief minister, leader or MP will take the vaccine first. Our goal is to give the vaccine to the health worker first," Patel said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik said that PM Modi should get vaccinated first so that doubts are "done away with".

"Covid-19 vaccination is about to begin. Still, there are doubts among people regarding vaccines. We want PM Modi to begin this initiative by getting vaccinated himself so that doubts are done away with, trust is built and PM creates a new history," Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik said.

PM Modi on bird flu

PM Modi also interacted with the chief ministers over the bird flu crisis that has been confirmed in nine states as of now.

The prime minister said that bird flu has been confirmed in Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra.

Poultry farms, zoos, water bodies have to be constantly monitored to control the spread of bird flu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.