Indian airlines began distributing batches of COVID-19 vaccines across the country on Tuesday, getting ready to begin a campaign offering vaccinations to 1.3 billion people in what officials term the world’s largest vaccination drive.
Authorities aim to inoculate 300 million people at high risk within the next six to eight months. Vaccinations are expected to start on Saturday.
Second, 30 million health and other frontline staff will receive the vaccine, followed by around 270 million people over the age of 50 or considered to be at high risk.
Airlines were due to deliver 5.65 million vaccine doses to various cities on Tuesday, aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Twitter.
Today, Air India, SpiceJet, and IndiGo Airlines will operate 9 flights from Pune with 56.5 lakh doses to Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Bengaluru, Lucknow & Chandigarh, says Union Civil Aviation Min Hardeep S Puri
Civil aviation sector launches yet another momentous mission.
Vaccine movement starts.
First two flights operated by @flyspicejet & @goairlinesindia from Pune to Delhi & Chennai have taken off. pic.twitter.com/uo11S4OvqK
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 12, 2021
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First Consignment Of Around 6.89 Lakh Covid-19 Vaccines Arrives In West Bengal
- Covishield vaccine to cost Rs 1,000 in private markets: SII’s Adar Poonawalla reveals
Serum supplies some 11 million doses of shot to the government at Rs 200 ($2.72) per dose, a source said.
Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla said,” This is a historical moment. We’ve given a special price of Rs 200 for the first 100 million doses only to GoI on their request. After that, we’ll be selling it at Rs 1,000 in private markets.”
‘To Govt of India, we’ll still maintain a very reasonable price but it will be a little bit more than Rs 200 which is our cost price. So we decided not to make any profit, we wanted to support the nation & Govt of India for the first 100 million doses,” he further said.
To Govt of India, we'll still maintain a very reasonable price but it will be a little bit more than Rs 200 which is our cost price. So we decided not to make any profit, we wanted to support the nation & Govt of India for the first 100 million doses: Adar Poonawalla#Covishield https://t.co/bnJc6ToeDD
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- The first consignment of the Covishield vaccine by SII brought to Nalanda Medical College in Patna, where it is being stored
Bihar: The first consignment of Covishield vaccine by Serum Insitute of India (SII), brought to Nalanda Medical College in Patna, where it is being stored.
The first phase of #COVID19 vaccination will begin from 16th January. https://t.co/0HnSI1yOto pic.twitter.com/aYSP3AEVdN
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- The first consignment of Covishield vaccine by SII arrives at Kolkata airport
West Bengal: The first consignment of Covishield vaccine by Serum Institute of India (SII), arrives at Kolkata airport.#CovidVaccine pic.twitter.com/MqsE81da7V
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- The first consignment of 7.95 lakh vials of Covidshield vaccine arrived in Bengaluru
Karnataka: The first consignment of 7.95 lakh vials of Covidshield vaccine from Serum Institute of India, Pune arrived in Bengaluru. Each dose of vaccine contains 0.5 ml and each vial contains 10 dosages of vaccines. pic.twitter.com/MtMYRos3RZ
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- Tamil Nadu receives the first batch of Covishield vaccine
Once it arrives at state vaccine centre, we'll be reinsuring that everything is in place. It'll be distributed further to 10 regional centres & 51 walk-in coolers at district level by today evening. Later, it will go to actual vaccination site in cold boxes: TN Health Secretary https://t.co/I4Nf31Fd9T
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- The first consignment of vaccine reaches Ahmedabad
Gujarat: The first consignment of the #COVID19 vaccine arrives at Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport
Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel present at the airport pic.twitter.com/3y3RP0SxdQ
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- DIAL CEO on the arrival of Covid vaccine consignment
Temperature-controlled facility, ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to +25 degrees Celsius, at our two Cargo terminals can efficiently & safely handle Covid-19 vaccines. Both terminals can handle around 5.7 mn vials in a day: DIAL CEO on arrival of Covid vaccine consignment https://t.co/KpQIJPM3Xr
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- SpiceJet carried India’s first consignment of Covid vaccine today
SpiceJet has carried India’s first consignment of Covid vaccine today. The first consignment of 'Covishield' consisting of 34 boxes and weighing 1088 kg was carried from #Pune to #Delhi: Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet pic.twitter.com/YEfiiENJBO
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2021
- The first lot of COVID-19 vaccine vials to arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday
The first consignment of over 10.5 lakh vials of COVID-19 vaccines will be reaching Kolkata from Pune on Tuesday, a senior official of the state health department said. Arrangements have been made to ferry the consignment from the city airport to state-owned Central Family Welfare Stores at Bagbazar – the biggest depot for stockpiling vaccines in Bengal.
- The first flight carrying COVID-19 vaccine ‘Covishield’ departed from Pune Airport to Delhi
SpiceJet has carried India’s first consignment of Covid vaccine today. The first consignment of ‘Covishield’ consisting of 34 boxes and weighing 1088 kg was carried from #Pune to #Delhi: Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet
