The Covid-19 vaccination drive was launched in India by PM Modi earlier today and a sanitation worker has become the first person to receive the vaccine jab at Delhi.

The sanitation worker, identified as Manish Kumar, works at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan was present at AIIMS while the first vaccine shot was administered. Subsequently, a number of healthcare workers and frontline workers were also vaccinated at AIIMS. PM Modi, who spoke at the launch of the vaccination drive via video conferencing, reportedly said, "Everyone was asking as to when the vaccine will be available. It is available now. It has been made available in very little time. I extend my wishes to the citizens. Today, scientists and those who are involved in vaccine research, deserve special praise. They have been involved in making the vaccine against Corona for the past several months. It usually takes years to make a vaccine. But in such a short time, not one, two Made in India vaccines are ready. Work is underway on some other vaccines as well."

The Union health ministry announced that doctors, community health workers and police officials will be prioritized for the vaccine. Following healthcare workers and frontline workers, priority will be given to those above 50 years of age and those below 50 years of age with co-morbidities. "There are over 100 countries with less than 3 crore population and India is administering vaccination to 3 crore people in the first phase only. In the second phase, we have to take this number to 30 crores," the PM added. On January 3, two vaccines - Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India - were approved by India for 'restricted emergency use.'

#WATCH | Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker, becomes the first person to receive COVID-19 vaccine jab at AIIMS, Delhi in presence of Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. pic.twitter.com/6GKqlQM07d

— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2021