Don't jump queue to get vaccinated: PM Modi cautions politicians

During a meeting with the chief ministers, the PM gave this warning that no politicians should try to get vaccinated before time.

The government has prepared a priority list of for the first phase of vaccination which will start from Jan 16.

In the first phase, one crore health workers and two crore frontline workers like the police, civil defence personnel and sanitation workers, would be immunized for whom the vaccines will be free.

In the next phase, the other high-risk groups -- people above the age of 50 years and those below it who have co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension -- will also be vaccinated.

Overall, 30 crore people will receive the vaccine in this phase.

Speaking at the meeting with the Chief Ministers on the issue of Covid-19 situation and vaccine rollout, he said: "In the first phase, we're going to vaccinate our frontline workers, other frontline workers, civil servants, people in defence services and other such people."

"We've made necessary preparations for patients if the COVID vaccine shows any side-effects," he said.

Modi said: "We already have a mechanism under the Universal Immunization Programme for situations such as these. We've strengthened it specifically for COVID vaccination."

Modi said apart from the two already approved vaccines, four others are in the pipeline.

" We're starting the world's largest vaccination programme from 16th January," he said.

"The discussion and cooperation between states and Centre has helped a lot in the fight against COVID and we've presented a good example of federalism," he said in his closing remarks at the meeting with CMs on the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.