India to start mammoth vaccination drive on Jan16; Covid-19 total at 10.45 million (Jan 10)

A health worker waits to take part in a dry run or mock drill for the Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine delivery held at SSKM hospital in Kolkata. India will launch one of the world's most ambitious coronavirus vaccination drives this Saturday (Jan 16), aiming to reach 300 million people by July. - AFP

NEW DELHIi, Jan 10, 2021 (AFP): India will launch one of the world's most ambitious coronavirus vaccination drives this Saturday (Jan 16), aiming to reach 300 million people by July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced.

The vaccine is to be free for the country's population of 1.3 billion, and Modi said the January 16 start would be "a landmark step" in fighting the pandemic.