World’s largest Covid-19 inoculation drive begins in India

India on Saturday the world’s largest inoculation exercise against the novel coronavirus.

India will administer shots to three crore frontline workers in phase one. There are 3,006 session sites across the country, where 100 beneficiaries each will be given either of India’s two indigenous vaccines, Covaxin or Covishield. (Express photo by Nirmal Harindran)

AIIMS director Randeep Guleria being administered a shot of the vaccine in Delhi

Paramedics at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Baramulla Kashmir where the inoculation drive was carried.

Healthcare workers listening to the PM's speech before the vaccination drive began in Pune. In a virtual address, an emotional PM Modi paid tribute to scientists and healthcare workers, who have been on the frontlines of the pandemic. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)

A nurse administers the Covid-19 vaccine to a frontline worker at Max Hospital in New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)

Long queue for vaccination at Dr RN Cooper Hospital in Mumbai. (Express photo by Amit Chakravorty)

Due to the lack of a WHO approval, persons who have received both the doses of Covaxin are being treated as unvaccinated in many countries. (Express photos by Arul Horizon)

People in the waiting area at Ruby hall clinic in Pune. (Express photo)

A rangoli made outside a Covid vaccination centre in Pune. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

Dr A K Singh director Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Institute taking the first dose of Covid vaccine at RML Vaccination Centre in Lucknow on Saturday. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

A box carrying Covid vaccines decorated outside a vaccination centre in Lukcnow. Frontline workers and medical staff are inoculated in 12 centers across Lucknow today. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Covid vaccines being admistered at Tilakwada Primary Health Centre in Narmada district in Gujarat on Saturday. (Express Photo by Bhupendra Rana)

Saroj Bala, a 40-year-old safai karamchari, is the first beneficiary of Covid vaccine at Sector-4 in Panchkula. (Express photo by Jaipal Singh)

Dr Supriya Basu, a medical professional, receiving Covishield vaccine in West Bengal. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Nagarathna, a ward attendant, becomes the first person to receive Covid-19 vaccine jab at Bangalore medical college, Bengaluru in presence of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. (Express photo)

A medical attendant with the box containing Covid vaccine vials at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati. (Express photo)

Nurses show victory sign during the Covid vaccination drive at Nampally Hospital in Hyderabad. (Express photo by Rahul V Pisharody)

A paramedic at Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla received the first shot of anti-Covid vaccine on Saturday (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)