Hyderabad, Jan 9 (PTI): The Telangana government is geared up for the COVID-19 vaccination programme beginning January 16, state Health Minister Eatala Rajender said on Saturday.

Stating that he would take the first shot to instil confidence among the people, Rajender said the dry runs preceding the vaccine rollout have been successfully conducted.

Vaccine would be administered at 139 centres on January 16 with two to three centres being set up in each district, an official release quoted the Minister as saying.

A total of 13,900 would be administered the vaccine in the 139 centres on the first day and 2,90,000 healthcare personnel working in the public and private sector have registered their names for the vaccine, he said.

Meanwhile, state Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, who attended a video conference with Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, said the workers in the Panchayat Raj Department should be given the vaccination (on priority) as they faced a high risk, according to an official release.

He wanted public representatives to also be given the vaccine as was sought by the Health Minister, the release said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)