In Photos: India's COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Kicks Off

On January 16, 2020, the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive kicked off in India. “As many as 1,91,181 people were vaccinated on Day 1 as India began its nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19,” said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, adding that the vaccines were a 'sanjivani', meaning life infusing, in the fight against the deadly virus.

Sanitation worker Manish Kumar became the first person in the country to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, receiving his jab at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. The initial phase of the vaccine roll out is focused on front line workers like Manish - sanitation workers and health workers, followed by those above the age of 50 years.

Aaqib Fayaz visits Delhi’s AIIMS and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital on Day 1 of the vaccination drive for these photos:

 

Day 1 of the world’s largest vaccination drive kicked off in India on January 16, with 300 million people slated to receive the vaccine in phase 1 of the inoculation programme that focuses on health workers, front line workers, and those above the age of 50.
 

 

Health workers wait their turn after frontline workers, who were vaccinated in the specially designated vaccination rooms.
 

 

In Delhi, 4300 health workers received the vaccine on Day 1. The immunisation drive in Delhi formally kicked off on Saturday by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the LNJP Hospital.
 

 

A health worker holds up the covid-19 vaccination. In Delhi, a total of 4319 healthcare workers, i.e 53.3 percent of those registered, got the shots on the first day of the vaccination drive.
 

 

A photo of the vaccine being prepared. The city government has received in total 2.74 lakh doses of the vaccine so far from the Centre, covering the capital’s 1.2 lakh healthcare workers.
 

 

The Oxford University vaccine Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India, is being administered at 75 centres in Delhi. Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is being given at the remaining six centres.
 

 

Both vaccines are administered in two doses, weeks apart. The vaccination drive remains voluntary. Pictured here, a frontline worker gets vaccinated at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, New Delhi.
 

 

A frontline worker fills the consent form before getting vaccinated at Delhi’s Lok Nayak hospital.
 

 

Kishor Kumar, a nursing officer at Delhi’s Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital takes the vaccination dose.
 

 

A mandatory period in the observation room follows the vaccine dose.
 

 

Frontline workers were given flowers as they got vaccinated.
 

 

AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria briefs the media on the vaccination drive at AIIMS.