Bhubaneswar, March 1: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday here as the phase-2 of vaccination rolled out across the country.
Patnaik took the jab at the State Assembly health centre. After taking the first shot, he appealed to all eligible people to come forward and get vaccinated for a Covid-free Odisha.
In this phase, persons above 60 and those over 45 with illnesses will be vaccinated against the COVID-19.
“Happy to share that I took my first dose of #COVID19 vaccine today. Grateful to our scientists, health workers for their race against time to deliver the vaccines to people,” tweeted Patnaik.
“Appeal to all eligible people to come forward and get vaccinated for a Covid Free Odisha,” he added.
The vaccine will be free at government health centres while it will cost Rs 250 per dose at private healthcare centres. Elderly people took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in different cities of Odisha.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the first dose of Covaxin, India’s homegrown coronavirus vaccine developed by biotechnology firm Bharat Biotech and Indian Council of Medical Research, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi.
The first phase of the nationwide vaccination drive against COVID-19 had begun on January 16. The second dose of vaccine had begun from February 13 in the country.
