The total number of people so far infected by the novel coronavirus in India crossed the one crore-mark, numbers coming in from states on Friday evening show. In the United States, Vice President Mike Pence received a shot of the Pfizer vaccine, becoming the highest profile world leader to be vaccinated for the novel coronavirus.
Getting vaccinated for Covid-19 will be voluntary, the Union Health Ministry has said while underlining that the vaccine introduced in India will be as effective as any vaccine developed by other countries.
The ministry further stated that it was advisable to receive a complete schedule of the anti-coronavirus vaccine irrespective of past history of infection with Covid-19 as this will help in developing a strong immune response against the disease. It also said that protective level of antibodies generally develop two weeks after receiving the second dose.
"Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary. However, it is advisable to receive the complete schedule of the vaccine for protecting one-self against this disease and also to limit the spread of this disease to the close contacts including family members, friends, relatives and co-workers,” the ministry said.
Pence became the highest profile world leader to be vaccinated for the coronavirus on live television. His wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received the vaccine shots. President Donald Trump’s administration helped deliver vaccinations against the coronavirus earlier than even some in his administration thought possible, launching Operation Warp Speed–the government campaign to help swiftly develop and distribute vaccines– this spring with great fanfare in the White House Rose Garden. But Trump hasn’t been inoculated himself.
Pence, meanwhile, has taken center stage, touring a vaccine production facility this week and receiving a dose himself on live television Friday morning. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both said Thursday that they will get vaccinated in the next few days.
Netherlands aims to begin Pfizer-BioNTech shots by Jan 8
The Dutch health minister said coronavirus vaccinations using the Pfizer-BioNTech shots will start by January 8 if the European Union’s medicines agency approves it for use next week. Hugo de Jonge said that health authorities have developed a plan he described as “careful, safe and responsible.”
(With inputs from agencies)