All states and UTs will be virtually connected during the launch of the COVID-19 vaccination drive to be launched by Prime Minister Modi on January 16.

As the first groups to receive the shots are from the health care providers, if there are side effects, the question is who will care for those who are ill?

The DCGI gave the approval for restricted emergency use following the recommendations by a COVID-19 Subject Expert Committee of the CDSCO.

The COVID-19 vaccination programme will begin with an estimated one crore healthcare workers, two crore frontline workers and 27 crore prioritise age groups.

Viz, 67, was administered a trial dose of COVID-19 vaccine of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on November 20.  The health minister was the first in the state who volunteered in the third trial of Covaxin.