Free COVID-19 vaccine for healthcare and frontline workers: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

New Delhi: The Union Minister of Health, Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that the vaccine for the novel coronavirus will be provided for free to the healthcare workers throughout the country. Union minister Dr Vardhan shared the information via tweet. He wrote the first phase of COVID-19 vaccine will be free of cost for healthcare and front line workers. He tweeted, "In 1st phase of #COVID19Vaccination free #vaccine shall be provided across the nation to most prioritised beneficiaries that incl 1 crore healthcare & 2 crore frontline workers. Details of how further 27 cr priority beneficiaries are to be vaccinated until July are being finalised."

The dry run of the coronavirus vaccine is being carried out in all the states and Union territories by the state administration today. The activity is expected to be organised in the capitals of all the states in at least three session sites.

The minister, Dr Vardhan, while reviewing the preparations for the exercise, appealed to everyone that they should not believe in any rumours and should emphasise that the vaccine for COVID-19 is safe.

While speaking to the reporters, D Vardhan said that he has urged the people to not believe in rumours, and also said that no rumour should be spread about the safety of the vaccine, since everything has been checked. He gave the example of the polio vaccine, which also faced a lot of rumours when it was initially rolled out. However, once it went on the floor, all people were assured about its safety. Dr Vardhan further said that the prime concern of the vaccine trial is the safety and efficacy and nothing will be compromised.

"Vaccine hesitancy was an issue even when we started polio immunisation drive but we must remember its success. I appeal to the people not to be misguided by rumours regarding safety & efficacy of #COVID19vaccine We will not compromise on any protocol before approving a vaccine," the union minister of health tweeted.

Also Read Late Kanakeswar Narzary, founder general secretary of ABSU remembered on his 78th birthday

Also Watch Romailo Tihar biday (Farewell) festival celebration in Sonitpur