Our Reporter

The world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign got underway on Saturday in India with the authorities starting with the inoculation of health workers across the country.

Some 30 million doctors, nurses and other front-line workers are targeted to be followed by 270 million people who are either over 50 or have illnesses that make them vulnerable to COVID-19.

The 300 million people expected to receive shots are roughly the population of the U.S.

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India is home to the world’s largest vaccine makers and has one of the biggest immunization programs.

The first dose was administered to a sanitation worker at the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital, New Delhi, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the campaign with a nationally televised speech.

“We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability,” Modi said. He implored citizens to keep their guard up and not to believe any “rumors about the safety of the vaccines.”

It was not clear whether Modi, 70, had received the vaccine himself as other world leaders have in an effort to demonstrate the shot’s safety. His government has said politicians will not be considered a priority group in the first phase of the rollout.