Thiruvananthapuram, Authorities have begun to distribute coronavirus vaccine doses to various districts in Kerala for the first phase of the vaccination drive, health officials said on Thursday.

The distribution of the vaccine doses to central and north Kerala district centres commenced from Kochi and Kozhikode and to southern districts from Thiruvananathapuram.

The vaccination drive will cover 3,68,866 health workers in the first phase beginning on January 16.

Health Minister KK Shailaja said: "The Health Department is geared up for the vaccination drive. We are stocking vaccine doses at all local points. As already announced, the vaccination drive will be carried out at 133 centres in the first phase."