New Delhi: India is taking a major step in the run towards overcoming the pandemic as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the Covid-19 vaccination drive today. The Coronavirus pandemic which reached India around March leading to a hasty lockdown has resulted in the death of more than 1.5 lakhs Indians and infected over 1.05 crore. The video conference with the prime minister was launched on over 3000 vaccination sites across the states and union territories and around 100 people will be vaccinated at each site.

This Vaccination drive is set to be one of the world’s biggest, aimed at immunizing 3 crore health workers and other frontline workers first. Covishield vaccine by the Serum Institute of India has reached all state capitals and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, a backup to Covishield, has also reached some states. NDTV reports the Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan expressing that this long-awaited drive which is set to vaccinate almost 3 lakh health care workers on the first day will probably be the “beginning of the end” of Covid19.

PM Modi had tweeted on Friday that the country would enter a “decisive phase” in the fight against coronavirus pandemic with the vaccination drive. The health ministry had explained in a statement that the drive will be conducted in a phased manner, identifying the priority groups which usually pertain to the healthcare workers in the government and the private sectors.

The government has tried to counter the doubts raised by the health experts and other citizens regarding the efficiency of the Covaxin which had not completed the Phase 3 trials. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had reviewed preparations for the drive and said that the Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield made by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin of Bharat Biotech, have proven safety and immunogenicity records. Several mock drills and dry runs across the country had been done and about 1.5 health care workers across 700 districts have been trained to administer the vaccine and deal with the various needs. Hindustan Times report that in a meeting with the chief ministers of the state with the highest Covid19 cases last month, PM had said that the government will make sure all the citizens are administered the vaccine as long as the candidates pass all scientific tests. “If speed is important, then safety is equally important,” he said.

At the launch of the vaccination drive today, PM applauded the countrymen who worked towards producing the vaccination. He said “the world has immense faith in India’s Scientists and capacity of vaccine production. We have got two vaccines in such short notice, it’s a testimony to our scientists’ talent and skills.”