As India began vaccinating its senior citizens from March 1, 103-year-old J Kameshwari became the oldest woman in the country to get vaccinated against the coronavirus in Bengaluru’s Apollo hospital, Bannerghatta Road. Kameshwari did not report any side-effects after taking the vaccine shots and was accompanied by her 77-year-old son who also got vaccinated at Apollo Hospital.
Apollo Hospital Bengaluru shared a picture of Kameshwari getting inoculated, tweeting, "103 years old Shree J Kameshwari receives the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta Road. We wish her all good health."
Senior citizens are more exposed to Covid-19 infection hence they are being prioritised in the ongoing session of vaccination, also people who are aged between 45 years and 59 years and have some health conditions are eligible for vaccination.
Before Kameshwari J, Mumbai's Shashikala Joshi was the oldest woman to get vaccinated. 100-year-old Joshi took her first jab on March 5 along with her 75-year-old daughter, Independent India's first voter 103-year-old Shyam Saran Negi took his first vaccine jab at Kalpa in Kinnaur district and did not suffer from any side-effect. He also appealed to the people of Kinnaur to come forward and receive the vaccine when their turn comes. On Tuesday, another 103-year-old man from Noida named Mahabir Prasad Maheshwari took his first dose of vaccine in Noida, who was accompanied by his 81-year-old son Sudarshan Dayal who said his father was feeling fit and fine after vaccination.
Also Read: PLIDB Chairman Pawan Dewan hails Punjab budget
The Central government is focusing on boosting the coronavirus vaccination drive across the country as the second phase of COVID-19 immunisation. It focuses on immunisation of all those healthcare professionals who missed getting vaccinated in the previous phase, frontline workers (armed forces personnel, police personnel), people above 60 years of age and those in the 45-59 age bracket with comorbidities.
By far a total of 2,40,37,644 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered as of March 10, 2021, stated the Union Health Ministry, including 71,13,801 healthcare workers (first dose) and 38,51,808 healthcare workers (second dose), 69,02,006 frontline workers (first dose) and 4,44,199 frontline workers (second dose), 49,25,543 beneficiaries over 60 years of age and 8,00,287 beneficiaries in the 45-59 age bracket with comorbidities.