Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 16 JAN: A commemorative postal stamp on COVID-19 vaccine to mark the 1st anniversary of India’s National Covid-19 vaccination program was released by the union health minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, today.
The commemorative stamp design features a healthcare worker inoculating a senior citizen with COVID-19 vaccine, along with an image of ‘COVAXIN’ vial. This stamp signifies the remarkable work done by our frontline healthcare workers and scientific community across the country in protecting the people against the COVID pandemic.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mandaviya said, “This is a historic occasion for us as postal stamp is being released on completion of one year of world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination program, which was rolled out in India on 16th January, 2021. Within a span of one year, we have administered more than 156 Crore COVID-19. Our vaccination program is in fact a role model for the global community. It is because of Jan Bhagidari that India was able to achieve this feat. He thanked all the healthcare professionals, scientific community, vaccine manufacturers and all the people for their relentless hard work and dedication in fighting the Covid pandemic.
Highlighting the remarkable efforts of all the stakeholders in collective fight against COVID-19, the union health minister said, “The entire world community is surprised with our efforts in fighting the COVID pandemic. Despite having a high density of population, we have been able to administer more than 156 Crore COVID-19 Vaccine doses. India has encountered various challenges along the journey but it is the resolve and dedication of more than 135 crore people that we could overcome every challenge. Credit goes to our indigenous Research and Development and streamlined Production and Distribution of vaccines.
“Amidst the environment of criticism and disbelief, the country gathered its spirits and worked against those who wanted to spread doubts and misinformation against indigenous vaccines and create vaccine hesitancy.”
He further highlighted that India’s vaccination program is a story of the unparalleled journey of the country. It showcases the Indian model and the extraordinary achievement of our country guided by the unshakable conviction of the Prime Minister in the hidden potential and capabilities of the citizens of our country.
Dr Mandaviya said that “The enormous preparation required with little time has made it an unparalleled journey. Understanding the highly infectious nature of the disease and the need to ensure overall healthcare availability across the country was vital”.
India did a strategic re-purposing of existing health infrastructure to ensure that the health systems providing primary healthcare at grassroots levels were strengthened, he added.
The union minister remarked that Proactive, Pre-emptive, and graded whole of Government and the whole of society approach are the hallmarks of India’s Covid response. Earlier, the process of vaccine research to vaccine availability for common people took several years but it was the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister that it could be achieved in just nine months. Our Prime Minister has always encouraged our scientific fraternity and development of indigenous Covid vaccines in record time is an outcome of his strong belief, he added.
Tags: #1YearofVaccineDrive #Covid19 #CovidVaccine #commemorative #Postal #Stamp
