The first consignment of Covishield vaccines left the Serum Institute of India this morning ahead of the January 16 nationwide inoculation drive launch, marking a decisive phase in anti-coronavirus fight. Three temperature-controlled trucks rolled out of the Serum Institute's gates shortly before 5 am and left for Pune airport, from where the vaccines will be flown across India. The Central government on Monday placed firm orders in advanced commitments for over 6 crore doses of vaccines from Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech for inoculating three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase of the vaccination drive scheduled to start from January 16.
