Bihar CM Nitish Kumar receives vaccine shot in Patna

In the second phase of the vaccination drive, people above 60 and those below the age with co-morbidities are being administered the vaccine shots.

New Delhi: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine as Bihar launched its free covid-19 vaccine campaign. He was the first person to receive the vaccine shot at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science(IGIMS) in Patna on Monday afternoon. Health minister Mangal Pandey and Pratyay Amrit, principal health secretary of Bihar government were present at the hospital when the chief minister was administered the vaccine. 

CM Nitish Kumar, after taking the vaccine shot, said: "I appeal to the people of Bihar to take the Corona vaccine especially senior citizens above 60 years of age. I also appeal to journalists to take the corona vaccine. The job of journalists is very challenging and hence they should take the vaccine. I have directed the concerned officials to start the process of vaccination to journalists."

Kumar, during the 2020 assembly election campaign, had promised vaccination to the people of Bihar free of cost.

"We had promised a free corona vaccine to everybody and I have already given directions to officials during the cabinet meeting for the same," Kumar said.

"The central government has a fixed charge not more than Rs 250 if any person goes to a private hospital. In Bihar, the state government will bear the expense of vaccines in private hospitals," Kumar said.

The vaccination in government hospitals is free of cost across the country.

"The state government has selected 1600 health centres for vaccination across the state and 50 of them are private hospitals. The process of dispatching the vaccines to these centres are started," said Pratyay Amrit, Bihar's principal health secretary.

In the second phase of the vaccination drive, people above 60 and those below the age with co-morbidities are being administered the vaccine shots.

Kumar has joined the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Congress leader Sharad Pawar among others who also received the vaccine shots today.