The COVID-19 vaccination drive kick started in West Bengal on Saturday morning, with a doctor of a private hospital getting the first shot, officials said.

Bipasha Seth is the first person who got inoculated in the state, the hospital authorities said. ''It's a great day for humankind. I feel elated to get the first dose,'' said Seth.

West Bengal's Minister of State for Labour Nirmal Maji also received the Covishield vaccine at the Kolkata medical college and Hospital, the officials said.

The vaccination program started around 10.30 am at 212 session sites, including medical colleges, urban primary health care centres and a few private hospitals, they said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination drive via video conferencing earlier in the day.

Around 1,800 health workers have been selected for inoculation on Saturday, the officials said. Around 90,000 frontline health workers at government and private hospitals have been enrolled for the first phase in West Bengal.

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