KMC ready to distribute COVID-19 vaccine: Firhad Hakim

After taking the 'Covaxin' trial shot, West Bengal's Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said, “Kolkata is ready to give co-vaccine. The names of the citizens who have co-morbidity have been selected separately by the health department. The list of people who will take the COVID-19 vaccine has already been prepared by the state government.”  

West Bengal's Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim became the second minister of a state government in the country to be administered a shot of Covaxin, India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine candidate whose Phase III trial began in the state on Wednesday (December 2).

After taking the 'Covaxin' trial shot, Firhad Hakim said, “Kolkata is ready to give co-vaccine. The Kolkata Municipality wants to vaccinate the citizens who have several co-morbidities. The list has already been prepared.”

According to sources, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will give a green signal from Nabanna (state secretariat) as soon as the vaccine arrives in the state. Director of NICE, Shanta Dutta, welcomed Firhad Hakim at the institute on Wednesday afternoon. 

The trial, which started at the city's ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), was inaugurated by state Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Firhad Hakim said, "I feel I am quite lucky to be part of the trial. I am absolutely okay after taking the shot. I do not care even if I die while undertaking this trial." 

Hakim underwent necessary check-ups to ascertain whether he was fit for the shot.

According to sources, Firhad Hakim is healthy and fine after taking the vaccine in his body. "I'm fully fit," Hakim said on Thursday (December 3). 

As soon as the vaccine trial is over, mass vaccination will start in every ward of the city. Firhad Hakim said, “It is to be noted that the names of 30 lakh people have already been registered in the city who will take the COVID-19 vaccine. The names of the citizens who have co-morbidity have been selected separately by the health department. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will announce about the vaccine as soon as the trial is over.”