Assam officially launches vaccination drive to defeat COVID-19

GUWAHATI: Assam today launched its COVID-19 vaccination drive, marking a new chapter in its tryst with the deadly virus that first landed in the state on March 31.

Launching the drive at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here today, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "In Assam, 2020 was a bleak time. The PM said that initially we did not have labs, PPE kits, or N95 masks. Most importantly, we did not have the knowledge and every hospital got filled up with COVID patients. However, we have made great strides -- 98% patients have recovered, and the mortality rate is very low."

"However", Sarma said, "the battle is not yet over. In the coming times, we have to be prepared to continue fighting with the COVID-19."

 

Dr. Umesh Chandra Sharma, former Vice Chancellor of the Srimanta Sankardeva University of Health Sciences today became the first in the state to receive a shot of the vaccine.

Yesterday, Biswa Sarma had announced that at least 2.9 lakh people across the state of Assam had signed up to receive the vaccine shots throught the Government's 'CoWin' app.

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After the commencement of the inoculation drive, Biswa Sarma wrote in a tweet: "Health workers in India begin receiving the

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vaccine. They have put their lives on hold and kept us safe and healthy through this pandemic and deserve this moment."

Sarma, however, emphasized the need to adhere to protocol to ensure safety. "Yes, the

#COVID19"> 

vaccine provides immunity against the virus and reduces the risk of infection BUT we must still wear a mask, wash our hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer and maintain physical distance of 6 ft," the Minister wrote in a tweet.

Narendra Modi launched India’s coronavirus vaccination drive via video conference on Saturday. Addressing the nation, PM Narendra Modi said, “Everyone was waiting for this day with bated breath. Everyone kept asking when will the vaccine come. It’s here and in a short span of time. In some minutes from now, the world’s biggest vaccination drive is to begin.”

Prime minister Modi further said that receiving two doses of the vaccine is important and asked people not to make mistake by taking only one dose.

“Listen to the experts about the gap to be kept. Two weeks after the second dose, you build immunity against COVID," he said.

Across India, some 3,000 Centres have been set up for vaccination against the COVID-19. Some 3 lakh people will receive the vaccine shots on the first day of the drive.

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