PM Modi to Launch COVID Vaccination Drive at 10:30 am on 16 Jan

“Total 3,006 session sites across all States/UTs to be virtually connected during the launch,” the PMO said. 

(Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the pan-India rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination drive at 10:30 am on 16 January via video conferencing, his office said on Thursday, 14 January.

"Total 3,006 session sites across all States/UTs to be virtually connected during the launch. Around 100 beneficiaries to be vaccinated at each session site on 16 January," the PMO was quoted as saying.

Earlier, the Union Health Ministry had also confirmed the PM’s participation in launching the vaccination programme. Modi is likely to interact virtually with some healthcare workers from across India, who will be vaccinated on Day 1 of the drive, PTI reported, quoting sources.

The report also said that the PM is likely to launch the Co-WIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) App the same day.

Meanwhile, VK Paul, a member of planning body NITI Aayog, had told NDTV that approximately three lakh people will be vaccinated on the first day.

Paul said that as the vaccination programme progresses, the number of sites will be increased to 5,000 and more.

The vaccination drive for COVID-19 in India will begin on 16 January, the Centre said last week, with PM Modi calling the move a “landmark step” in the fight against the pandemic.

“Priority will be given to the healthcare workers and the frontline workers, estimated to be around 3 crore, followed by those above 50 years and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities numbering around 27 crore,” the Centre had said.

(With inputs from PTI and NDTV.)