Nagaland health minister S Pangnyu Phom receives first 'Covaxin' shot

DIMAPUR: Nagaland's Health and Family Welfare Minister S Pangnyu Phom today took his first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine (Covishield) at the District Hospital in Dimapur.

"Took my first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine (Covishield) at District Hospital, Dimapur today. I would like to appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine without any hesitation," Phom wrote on Twitter after taking the shot.

In a related development, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Monday as the Assam government launched the third phase of the inoculation drive for senior citizens and people in the age group of 45-59 with comorbidities.

The 52-year-old minister was administered the first dose of the vaccine at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital where several prominent people, including retired bureaucrats, also received their first dose.

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"As people above 45 years with co-morbidities are eligible, I took my first dose of #COVID19 vaccine at GMCH today. All those under this category are advised to take their doses", the minister tweeted.

Earlier today, President Ram Nath Kovind got inoculated with the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Delhi’s RR Hospital on Wednesday. With today’s vaccination, the President joins the ranks of statesmen and politicians who have gotten vaccinated since the second phase of vaccination started on March 1.

The Prime Minister flagged off the second phase on March 1 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. He was administered the indigenous Covaxin. Among the group of G20 countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the ninth leader to be vaccinated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the first leader to get vaccinated on live television followed by American President Joe Biden.