Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to receive a COVID-19 jab soon, will on Friday interact with vaccine beneficiaries and vaccinators in Varanasi amid concerns over hesitancy reported from various states after the world’s largest vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16.

The Prime Minister tweeted that the interaction would be a first-hand opportunity to hear their experiences as well as get feedback on the mammoth exercise. “The world’s largest vaccination drive is underway in India. Our frontline warriors are getting vaccinated across the nation… This interaction would give first hand opportunity to hear their experiences as well as feedback,” the PM tweeted about the interaction that will take place at 1.15 pm via video-conferencing.

Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday unveiled posters to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy in some sections of the population. Urging people to stop misinformation around the vaccine, the minister said, “Let us put a stop to these falsehoods”. He added that people must seek correct information from credible and authentic sources such as the Health Ministry, PIB, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, MyGov website etc.

India has authorised two vaccines for emergency use — Oxford University-AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine, produced by the Serum Institute of India, and Covaxin, a government-backed, indigenous one from Bharat Biotech, whose efficacy trials are not done yet.

In the first round of the vaccination drive, nearly 10 lakh health workers and frontline staff have received the jab. But the drive has so far recorded a cumulative coverage of about 57%. Several states reported that doses of the vaccines were going to waste as people were not showing up to receive their shots, mainly due to worries over possible adverse reactions, according to hindustantimes.com.

India’s COVID-19 caseload crossed 1,06,25,428 on Thursday with 1,88,688 active cases. The death toll stands at 1,53,032.