PM Modi urges people to take Covid vaccine booster dose

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to take the precaution or booster dose of the Covid vaccines as India sees an increase in the number of Covid cases, on Thursday.

He made the appeal after he had inaugurated a variety of projects of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, remotely. The project includes a 250-bed multi-specialty hospital at Dharampur, situated in Gujarat's Valsad district.

"I urge all present here to take precaution dose of COVID-19 vaccine. On the completion of 75 years of independence, the government has started a campaign of giving free vaccine doses for 75 days," PM Modi said, addressing the huge gathering virtually.


"We should ensure that everybody in our family and our area or village takes the precaution dose," the PM added.


This comes as the tally of new coronavirus cases has steadily risen in different parts of the country over the past few days.

PM Modi had said in his speech that the hospital project will prove to be of great service to women and other sections of society. He praised the Mission's record of service as he recalled his long association with the cause. He also said the spirit of duty was the need of the hour during the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

PM Modi also applauded the Mission's dedication and work in the field of rural health in Gujarat.

"This hospital and research centre will make affordable quality healthcare accessible to everyone. This is going to give strength to the vision of healthy India in the 'Amrit Kaal'. This also strengthens the spirit of Sabka Prayas (everyone's efforts) in the field of healthcare," Modi said.

"In the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the country is remembering its children who made efforts to bring India out of slavery. Shrimad Rajchandra ji was one such saint whose great contribution is part of the history of this country," he added.

According to Mission officials, the Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital which was built at a cost of around Rs 200 crores, aims to provide world class tertiary medical facilities, especially for the people in the southern Gujarat region.

The Union government is trying to remove every obstacle which stands in the way of progress of our "sisters and daughters," the PM said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that India's health policy today concerns the health of all living beings and it is running a nationwide vaccination campaign not just for people but also for animals.

Modi has also laid the foundation stone of Shrimad Rajchandra Animal Hospital and Shrimad Rajchandra Center of Excellence for Women. Others present at the event include, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president C R Patil.

Shrimad Rajchandra (1867-1901) was a Jain poet, mystic, philosopher, scholar and reformer.