New Delhi: The world's biggest vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus will begin Saturday as India starts vaccinating three crore of its frontline workers.
In the first phase, two indigenous vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield, will be administered to priority groups.
Speaking to media, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said the central government has, so far, sent the vaccine worth Rs 1.65 lakh crore to all states. Initially, health workers and frontline workers will be vaccinated.
He said on the first day, the vaccine would be administered at 3,006 vaccination sites and around 100 people would be vaccinated at each site.
"The vaccine will be administered to people who are above 18 years of age and the pregnant women will not be vaccinated as of now," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch the world's largest vaccination programme at 10:30 AM on Saturday and almost three lakh beneficiaries, belonging to the priority groups, will be administered.
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