Pune: The most awaited moment of the decade – the actual distribution of COVISHIELD vaccine – came true on Tuesday (January 12) morning as three containers left the Serum Institute of India premises for the Lohegaon Pune Airport. The containers had vaccines produced by the Serum Institute and meant to be distributed in 13 cities across the country.
The doses will be transported via Air India flight AI 851 Pune-Ahmedabad-Delhi. A total of 14 flights will transport these vaccines to Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Vijaywada, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Bangalore, Patna and Lucknow. The vaccine vials are put in 456 boxes weighing 14.592 tons.
Pune: COVISHILED Vaccine being loaded in cargo flight at Lohegaon airport on January 12 morning
Pune has been designated as the central hub for Covid-19 vaccine distribution across the country. A total of 6 containers had arrived at the Serum Institute on Monday (January 11) evening. Of these, three containers were loaded with the vaccine vials and were brought at gate number 2 of the institute at 4.30am on Tuesday.
Pune: COVISHILED Vaccine being loaded in cargo flight at Lohegaon airport on January 12 morning
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) Namrata Patil performed the coconut breaking ceremony. After this, the containers left for Lohegaon airport. Police personnel on bandobast duty, staff of Serum Institute and media representatives were present during the occasion.