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3,962 get covid-19 vaccine in Telangana on Day 1

Inoculation drive off to smooth start across Telangana

By Telangana Today

Updated On - 17 January 2021, 12:33 AM

3,962 get covid-19 vaccine in Telangana on Day 1 — Covid -19 Vaccination at UPHC Government Hospital Tilak Nagar. Photos: Surya Sridhar

Hyderabad: Telangana began inoculating its 3 lakh healthcare workers on Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and State Health Minister Eatala Rajender overseeing the administration of the first vial of Covid vaccine to a sanitation employee, Krishnamma, at Gandhi Hospital.

During the launch of the vaccine, Modi recited a poem of eminent Telugu writer Gurajada Apparao, to drive home the point of lending a helping hand to those in need.

‘Sontha Labham Kontha Manuko, Porugu Vadiki Thodu Padavoy. Desamante Matti Kadoy, Desamante Manusholoy,” he recited. The quote, which means ‘Forego your self-interest and help others’, also sums up the way the country’s Covid-19 vaccination drive is designed, which is to first inoculate those who need it the most.

“Our doctors, nurses, sanitation employees and non-clinical staff in government hospitals did not hesitate to risk their lives to save critical Covid patients. They were the frontline workers who led our response to the pandemic, and they deserve to be amongst the first to be inoculated,” said Rajender.

At the primary health centre in Narsingi, where the Prime Minister inaugurated the vaccination drive through a two-way video conferencing, vaccinators inoculated Jayamma, another sanitation employee from the healthcare facility.

Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, along with her husband and noted nephrologist Dr P Soundararajan, inaugurated the drive at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS). Public representatives, including MLAs, MPs and MLCs, across the State turned up in their respective constituencies to inaugurate and oversee the vaccination.

IT Minister and TRS working president KT Rama Rao participated in the inaugural of the drive at Tilaknagar urban primary health centre.

On the first day, the Health Department had planned to inoculate 4,296 healthcare workers, of which close to 3,962 individuals received the vaccine. The authorities plan to add more vaccine sites to cover more healthcare workers in the coming days and weeks.

“By the end of Saturday, close to 90 per cent of the planned 4,296 healthcare workers got vaccinated. This reflects the dedication and tough-minded nature of healthcare workers. Eleven of them complained of minor adverse reactions after receiving the vaccine like pain at the injection site, fever etc, which is expected. Some refused to turn up on the first day, but we are confident that all will participate,” said Director of Public Health (DPH) Dr G Srinivasa Rao.

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