A sanitation worker was given the first COVID-19 vaccine as the Odisha government began its mass vaccination drive at 161 centres across the State here on Saturday.
The worker — identified as 51-year-old Biranchi Naik, who has been working at Capital Hospital for the past 30 years — received a Covaxin jab.
“I would be lying if I say I was not scared before taking the vaccine. However, when the Prime Minister and Chief Minister have been giving assurances on vaccination, no one should be worried,” said Mr. Naik.
The worker, while interacting with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said he was feeling fine after getting the first dose.
The director of Capital Hospital and a senior doctor also took the vaccine in order to dispel doubts in the minds of people. Similarly, Gitanjali Batmanabane, Director of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, received the vaccine.
At 11.05 a.m., the first vaccine dose was administered. “It is matter of great satisfaction that the vaccination has marked our entry…