'Go for it,' says first person vaccinated in India's massive COVID-19 campaign

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hospital cleaning worker Manish Kumar became the first person in India to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched one of the world’s largest immunisation campaigns to bring the pandemic under control.

Kumar received his shot at Delhi’s premier All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), one of 3,006 vaccination centres established around the country.

“The vaccine will give me strength and motivation to serve my hospital which has been at the forefront of taking care of coronavirus patients,” Kumar said. “Since I’m feeling relieved after taking the vaccine, I think everyone should go for it.”

India is prioritising nurses, doctors and other frontline workers, and Modi had tears in his eyes as he addressed healthcare workers via video conferencing.