Meghalaya Guv receives COVID vaccine jab in Shillong

SHILLONG:

Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik received the COVID-19 vaccine jab on Wednesday at Ganesh Das Hospital in Shillong.

Terming the process as smooth, Malik said he felt secured and safe after getting the vaccine and urged all the elderly people above the age of 45 years to come forward and take the vaccine.

“I was afraid seeing the size of the needle, but when I got the vaccination (injection), I didn’t feel any pain,” the Governor said, urging everyone to shed their fears and doubts and get themselves vaccinated.

“I’m feeling proud that I am getting the vaccine made in India and our scientists have done a wonderful job. I am feeling safe after this,” he added.

The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive to cover senior citizens and people above 45 years with co-morbidities kicked started on Monday, March 1 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked started the campaign by getting the first jab at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

The Central Government has decided to allow all private hospitals to function as vaccination centres. Earlier, only private hospitals empanelled to Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) Scheme, and similar State Health Insurance Schemes were allowed to function as COVID Vaccination Centers.

States and Union Territories have been directed not to store, reserve, conserve or create a buffer stock of the COVID vaccines at the State and district levels.

(Edited by Iban Mawrie)