Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama took his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in a state-run hospital near his residence in McLeodganj, Dharamshala Saturday morning.

It was the Dalai Lama's first outing after more than a year – the five-day Buddhist teaching session at Bodhgaya in Bihar in January 2020 was his last public appearance.

 

After getting the jab, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Laureate thanked the Central and the state governments for facilitating him to get the jab at the zonal hospital.

 

 

He also appealed to all eligible, especially 'patients', to come forward and get themselves vaccinated for the greater benefit. 

 

"This is very important so I took that and I want to share that more people should have the courage to take this injection," the spiritual leader said in a video address.

 

"According to my trusted friends, including doctors, they suggest I should take this injection. In order to prevent some serious problem, this injection is very helpful and good. So those other patients should take this injection for greater benefit."

 

The Hindustan Times reported that the district health authorities had planned to vaccinate the Dalai Lama at his home after the Indian government permitted provisions to inoculate the spiritual leader along with his core staff at his residence. 

 

“However, His Holiness said he would take the injection at the place where the common people were being inoculated. It was his decision. We were arranging to vaccinate him at his home,” the daily quoted Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar Prajapati as saying.

 

The newspaper said that escorted by his security and staff, the Dalai Lama arrived at the hospital at 7 AM in a motorcade with his followers lining the streets of McLoedganj to catch a glimpse of their spiritual leader and seek his blessings.