Free COVID-19 vaccination for three crore healthcare workers: Modi

He said the Centre will bear the cost of vaccinating these people.

Speaking at the meeting with the Chief Ministers on the issue of COVID19 situation and vaccine rollout, he said: "In the first phase, we're going to vaccinate our frontline workers, other frontline workers, civil servants, people in defence services and other such people."

"We've made necessary preparations for patients if the COVID vaccine shows any side-effects," he said.

Modi said: "We already have a mechanism under the Universal Immunization Programme for situations such as these. We've strengthened it specifically for COVID vaccination."

Speaking on the issue of bird flu outbreak in some parts of the nation, the Indian leader said: "9 states in India have confirmed cases of Bird Flu. The government has formalized a roadmap, which needs to be followed at an earliest."

"DMs will also have a major role to play in this. States that do not have any cases must maintain proper caution," he said.

He said apart from the two already approved vaccines, four others are in the pipeline.

" We're starting the world's largest vaccination programme from 16th January," he said.

"The discussion and cooperation between states and Centre has helped a lot in the fight against COVID and we've presented a good example of federalism," he said in his closing remarks at the meeting with CMs on the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.