Tika Utsav Day 1: Over 27 vaccine doses administered, says health ministry

NEW DELHI: India administered over 27 lakh

vaccine doses

on the first day of the 4-day-long '

Tika Utsav

'

On Day 1 of Tika Utsav, more than 27 lakh vaccine doses were administered till 8pm today, said

Union health ministry

.


Sunday also saw many Workplace vaccination centres become operational. Overall, 63,800

COVID

Vaccination Centres (CVCs) were operational on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called 'Tika Utsav' the beginning of the second big war against corona.

In a tweet, he also made four requests to the citizens. "We are going to begin 'Tika Utsav' today nationwide. I urge countrymen to abide by four things - assist those who need help getting inoculated, help people in COVID treatment, wear asks and motivate others and if someone tests positive, create micro-containment zone in the area," he said.

The four-day-long vaccination programme, which started on Sunday on the birth anniversary of

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule

and will continue till the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14, aims to inoculate maximum number of eligible people against the coronavirus.

In a meeting with the chief ministers last week, PM suggested the idea of a 'Tika Utsav' to give further impetus to India's fight against coronavirus.

It comes at a time when cases are rising at an unprecedented pace in India, with the country reporting over 1 lakh cases for the last 5 days.

India on Sunday reported over 1.52 lakh new cases.

(With agency inputs)