PM Modi gets first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Tweets pic & appeal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine as India kickstarted its second phase of vaccinations.

PM Modi was administered the home-grown Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

The PM tweeted a picture of himself getting the shot at Delhi's AIIMS with a appeal to all those eligible to take the vaccine.

"Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against Covid-19," PM Modi tweeted. "Together, let us make India Covid-19 free," he said.

India will expand its coronavirus vaccination programme today to cover people over 60 and those over 45 who have illnesses as it hopes to rein in a growing number of more infectious virus strains and a spurt in cases in some states.