Covishield vaccines dispatched by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) have been taken delivered to Gujrat Airport on Tuesday.  Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who visited the airport along with Minister of State for Home PradeepsinhJadeja around noon, described the arrival of the vaccines as the ''much-awaited moment''.

''We have received 2.76 lakhs doses of the coronavirus vaccine today. People have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this vaccine and it has finally arrived,'' Patel told reporters at the airport. He said these doses are meant for Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Bhavnagar sectors.

Furthermore, 93,500 doses of the vaccine will reach Surat from Pune by road on Wednesday, while 9,45,000 doses will reach Vadodara and 77,000 doses will reach Rajkot, the deputy CM said. Officials said the vaccines will be transported to various destinations with elaborate security arrangements. Security will be beefed up at places where the vaccines will be stored, they added.

Patel said the Gujarat government will administer the vaccine to 4.33 lakhs healthcare workers in the first phase. He said, 11 lakh healthcare and frontline workers have already been identified by the state government for inoculation.

Corona vaccine to get Rs 200! Serum Institute unveils price

Cold storage centers are ready to preserve the vaccine:Deputy CM

State Government prepares mechanism for vaccination