Question

In which year Covid Vaccine started in India?

• A. 2021 January 14
• B. 2021 January 15
• C. 2021 January 16
• D. 2021 January 17

Answer 1

Answer:

C. 2021 January 16

India's COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

• India commenced its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program on January 16, 2021, marking a significant milestone in the global fight against the pandemic.
• This initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was heralded as the world's largest vaccination drive.
• The initial phase prioritized healthcare workers and frontline workers due to their direct exposure and critical role during the pandemic.
• Two vaccines were primarily used in the initial phase:
  • Covishield: Developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune.
  • Covaxin: India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).
• India achieved the milestone of administering 100 crore (1 billion) vaccine doses on October 21, 2021, less than nine months after the drive began.
• On July 17, 2022, India crossed the remarkable figure of 200 crore (2 billion) vaccine doses administered, further showcasing the massive scale and success of the program.
• The vaccination drive was implemented through a digital platform called Co-WIN, which facilitated registration, appointment booking, and vaccination certificate generation.
• India also initiated the 'Vaccine Maitri' (Vaccine Friendship) initiative, under which it supplied COVID-19 vaccines to numerous countries globally, demonstrating its commitment to global public health.
• The rapid development and deployment of indigenous vaccines like Covaxin highlighted India's growing capabilities in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, positioning it as a significant player in global vaccine production.