NCP chief Sharad Pawar takes first dose of COVID-19 vaccine

Mumbai: NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his wife, and MP daughter on Monday received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a civic hospital here in Maharashtra, a senior health official said.

The former Union minister was administered the ‘Covishield’ vaccine, which is manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) in collaboration with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, he said.

”Pawar (80) took the first shot of the vaccine along with his wife Pratibha Pawar and daughter Supriya Sule,” Dr. Tatyaro Lahane, Director of the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), told reporters.

Sule (51) represents the Baramati Lok Sabha seat in the Pune district.

On Monday, the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive began nationwide wherein people above 60 years of age and those over 45 years with comorbidities will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine for free at government facilities and for a charge at many private hospitals.