Manipur CM gets Covid jab; launches special Covid vaccination drive

Our Correspondent

Imphal, April 11 (EMN): Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday inaugurated four-day Tikka Utsav, a special Covid-19 vaccination drive and took the first jab of Covid vaccine at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) Hospital at Porompat in Imphal East District.

After receiving the vaccine, Singh said he had not experienced any adverse effect.

Appealing to the eligible public to vaccinate and extend support to Government’s efforts towards preventing the second wave of Covid-19, he expressed the need to use a mask, maintain social distancing and avoid crowding even after vaccination.

“Because human lives are so precious and to live healthy is very important,” he said.

Later in a tweet,Singh wrote, “Took my 1st dose of #COVID 19 vaccine at JNIMS during the launching of #TikaUtsav (11th-14th April 2021). I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Stay safe from the #SecondWave Together, let us make our State and the Country Covid-19 free.”

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Works Minister Th Biswajit, Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba and Chairperson L Radhakishore of Manipur Pollution Control Board also took the first dose of the vaccine along with the Chief Minister. 

Earlier, addressing the inauguration function of Tikka Utsav, which will continue till April 14, Biren Singh pointed out that human lives were so precious and to live healthy was very important.

“Tikka Utsav is organised at national level to speed up vaccination to contain the second wave of the pandemic. After witnessing a remarkable fall in the past few months, the State is now experiencing a steady rise of active cases in the past few days,” Singh stated. That is why, he said, Manipur government had begun keeping strict vigil like earlier. 

Manipur’s total Covid-19 infection tally crossed the 100 mark again, the state’s total tally reached 107 with the detection of 10 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. The total positive cases are 29,496 while 29,013 of them have recovered. The recovery rate is 98.36%.

Biren Singh also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday enquired about the present Covid-19 situation of the state over the phone. 

126 centres are now activated across Manipur to vaccinate all the people whose age is 45 years and above. Vaccination of frontline workers began from February 8 this year followed by vaccination of those who are 45 years and above from April 1.