Prime Minister Narendra Modi just about fought back his tears as India began its Covid vaccination drive on Saturday in an address to the nation.
“Today, when we take a look at the last year, we realise that we have learnt a lot as individuals, family and nation. I want to remember those days when the disease kept people away from their families. Mothers wept for their children but couldn’t hold them. Old fathers fought the disease alone in hispotals, their children couldn’t help them. We couldn’t perform rituals for those who died due to Corona,” said the PM “It makes me extremely sad.”
Fighting back his tears, the prime minister recalled the sacrifices made by healthcare and frontline workers, hundreds of whom lost their lives to the ravages of the pandemic.
“ In times of that crisis and atmosphere of despair, some were giving us hope. They were putting themselves at risk to save us – doctors, nurses, paramedics, ambulance drivers, sanitation workers, police and other frontline workers – they prioritised their duty to humanity. They stayed away from their families and children, they stayed away from home for days… Hundreds never returned home.
“So today, by vaccinating healthcare workers first, society is paying their debt.”
In the first phase of vaccination, some 3 crore health workers would get a shot.
