NEW DELHI: “Laga bhi dia aur pata hi nahi chala” (Is it already done? I didn’t even notice),” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi just after getting his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, at AIIMS Delhi on Monday.
While a section of the population has been expressing reservations regarding the efficacy of the vaccine, the Prime Minister was seen calmly talking to the nurses while he received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Sister P Nivedita, the nurse from Puducherry who administered the vaccine to PM Modi, told ANI that after receiving the shot, the Prime Minister said, “Laga bhi di aur pata hi nahi chala (Is it already done? I didn’t even notice).”
Even the staff administering the vaccine only got to know who was their patient just minutes ahead of the vaccination.
“I found out today morning that sir (Prime Minister Modi) was going to come, and I was called to administer the vaccine. It was nice to meet him,” Nivedita said.
“Sir (PM Modi) has been administered the first dose of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. The second dose will be given in 28 days. He asked us from where we belong,” she said.
P Nivedita has been working at AIIMS for the last three years.
The second nurse present during the vaccine administration process, who hails from Kerala, said, “We found out today morning itself that sir was going to come here to get vaccinated. It was very nice. Sir was also very comfortable.”
Earlier, soon after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, Prime Minister tweeted, “Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS,” PM Modi tweeted with his picture of receiving the jab. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19.”
The PM was seen wearing a gamcha from Assam, symbolic of blessings of women from the eastern state. He has been seen wearing it on many occasions.
The Covid-19 vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield, will be made available to the general public from today. As many as 1,43,01,266 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered so far.
The first phase of the nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19 had begun on January 16. The second phase began on February 13.
Lauds ‘huge contribution’
Advising youth of the country to read about Indian scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the “huge contribution” of science towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
In his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi also shared examples of individuals who were striving for self-reliant India in the truest sense. He said that India has to launch Made in India’s products in every field to raise the heads with pride.
“Today is National Science Day. It is dedicated to the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by scientist Dr CV Raman. Our youth should read a lot about Indian scientists and understand the history of Indian science. The contribution of science is huge in Atmanirbhar Bharat. We need to take science forward with the mantra of ‘Lab to Land’,” he said.
“When we see fighter plane Tejas made in our own country doing acrobatics in the sky, Made in India tanks, Made in India missiles, Made in India coaches in Metro trains, Made in India Coronavirus vaccines reaching dozens of countries, then our heads rise higher. Textiles made in India, handicraft goods made by talented artisans of India, electronic appliances of India, mobiles of India, in every field we have to raise this pride. When we move forward with this thought, only then will we become self-reliant in the truest sense,” he added.
PM Modi shared the story about Ladakh’s Urgain Phuntsog, who is working with innovative techniques to organically grow 20 different crops in a cyclic pattern.
“Urugen Futsog of Ladakh too is working very innovatively. At those heights Urugen is growing about 20 crops organically, that too in a cyclic way, that is, he utilises the waste of one crop as manure for the other crop,” he added.
Sharing the story of Pramod, a resident of Bihar’s Bettiah, who started a small unit to manufacture LED bulbs, PM Modi said, “Pramodji had to return to his home due to COVID-19 pandemic. He himself started a small unit to manufacture LED bulbs. He brought along some youngsters from his area and completed the journey from being a factory worker to becoming a factory owner in a few months.”
Sharing another example of how Indians are contributing towards a self-reliant India campaign, PM Modi said, “People are taking up the challenge to be self-reliant in Chia seeds too. Similarly, Harishchandraji of Barabanki in UP has begun farming of Chia seeds. Cultivation of Chia seeds will also increase his income and will help in the self-reliant India campaign too.” (ANI)