Sanitation Worker Manish Kumar becomes first Indian to get COVID-19 vaccine   

As India kicked off the world's biggest COVID-19 vaccination drive, a frontline sanitation worker at Delhi AIIMS, Manish Kumar, became the first person in the Indian capital to be administered a COVID-19 vaccine. He received the first shot in the presence of Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Director Dr Randeep Guleria also received the vaccine shot.

"I knew I was a beneficiary, I told my supervisor to make me the first recipient because I wanted to dispel fears around the vaccine. A lot of apprehension is there, but I am fine. I have been working in AIIMS for many years now. There is no reason to be afraid of the vaccine. My family was fearful too, but I told them that I am taking it and I have faith," said Kumar after receiving the jab.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was present at Delhi's AIIMS this morning for the rollout, says the vaccines are 'sanjivani' in the fight against Covid-19.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched India's Covid-19 vaccine drive. In a virtual address, the PM got emotional as he paid tribute to India's frontline workers and scientists. Around 100 beneficiaries will be vaccinated at each session site on Saturday, making it a total of around three lakh people who’ll get the shot on the first day.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari raised questions over the emergency use approval given to the indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin and alleged that it was "sans due process".

In a Tweet, Tewari said: "As vaccine rollout begins, it is all a bit puzzling India has no policy framework for authorising emergency use. Yet, two vaccines have been approved for restricted use in emergency situation."

India will administer shots to three crore frontline workers in phase one. Since the pandemic hit India in early 2020, over one crore and 5.42 lakh people have been infected with the disease, while close to 1.52 lakh have died.