‘I Feel Safe After Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine,’ Said A Health Worker During PM Modi’s Interaction With Beneficiaries At Varanasi

New Delhi: With an aim to dispel fear and misinformation around the COVID-19 vaccination drive and to hear the first-hand account of those vaccinated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with beneficiaries in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today. Talking through video conference with beneficiaries and those administrating the shots, the Prime Minister expressed pride over the development of two vaccines in the country to tackle coronavirus. He said that the country is self-reliant in fulfilling its need for coronavirus vaccine and is manufacturing not one but two of such vaccines. “The country is manufacturing two Made in India vaccines. It is being supplied across the country at a good pace. The country is self-reliant on this need. India is also helping several countries,” he said.

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PM Modi added that there is no need to be concerned about the safety of the vaccines and said,

When scientists, doctors and health workers give a clean chit to the vaccine, it sends a very strong message among people about the efficacy of the shots. The vaccines have gone through a proper process and trials. The citizens of our country must have faith on our scientists and doctors.

Appreciating the role played by the healthcare workers and frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19, PM Modi said,

Really, corona warriors have done a wonderful job and it is their hard work that we are able to fight the virus.

Health practitioners who have been vaccinated against coronavirus or have administered the shots to others took part, shared their experience with the PM. While sharing her experience, Pushpa Devi, Matron at a District Women Hospital, who received the vaccine on January 16 – the opening day of the vaccination drive, said that she feels wonderful after being inoculated and is healthy. She said,

I want to thank the Prime Minister because you decided to inoculate the health workers first. I am lucky that I have already received the vaccine. I feel safe and healthy. I urge everyone including my family, community and my nursing and paramedical staff to take the vaccine without any doubt. I have not faced any problems after getting the vaccine. Taking COVID-19 injection was as normal as taking any other injection. Everyone should come forward and get themselves vaccinated.

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Another beneficiary, Rani Kunwar, ANM (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife) who is also working as a vaccinator during the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive shared her experience and said,

We administer almost 100 vaccines in one day. I feel very proud that I have got this opportunity to inoculate people against this deadly disease and help in the fight against the novel coronavirus. When I interact with people, they bless me.

Dr V Shukla, Chief Medical Officer at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital, Varanasi told the Prime Minister that the health workers feel honoured to be chosen as first group of people to get the vaccine. He said,

We are focusing on doing our duty of vaccinating people with diligence. It is a positive thing that people who got vaccinated are healthy and there is no fear among them. The vaccines are absolutely safe.

PM Modi informed that 20,000 healthcare professionals will be vaccinated at 15 vaccination centres in Varanasi in the first phase. He said,

In the past six years, medical infrastructure in Varanasi and nearby areas has transformed. This has helped the whole Purvanchal region during COVID-19. Now, Varanasi is going ahead with the same speed in vaccination drive like others.

He also acknowledged the efforts of people involved in programmes on cleanliness, drinking water and sanitation during the past five years. He added,

Because of these programmes, the poorest have developed the strength to battle diseases. There has been an indirect benefit that poor citizens, or elderly ones have become stronger to fight corona. Because of that our death rate has been very low. Swachhta (cleanliness), paani (water), and toilet programmes have helped a lot.

PM Modi launched the vaccination drive against COVID-19 on January 16 and called it as the world’s largest vaccination drive. The central government targets to inoculate 30 crore people in the next few months who have been identified as priority population which includes healthcare and frontline workers, senior citizens and those suffering from comorbidities. However, the authorities are grappling with hesitancy over the vaccination, with many health workers not turning up to get themselves inoculated at their assigned centres. As many as 10.4 lakh (10,43,534) people have been vaccinated against coronavirus in the country as of January 22.

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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.