Oldest person to get vaccinated: 125-year-old man receives Covid-19 vaccine in Varanasi, says ‘simple food’ is reason for his longevity

As Covid-19 vaccination drive in full force across India, there are still many people who are reluctant to get the vaccine, due to various fears and misconception. But not this elderly man, who has set aside all vaccine hesitancy talks, and has become the oldest person to get vaccinated. Yes, it’s hard to believe, but the man aged 125 years got himself inoculated against Covid-19 in Varanasi on Wednesday.

Notably, Swami Shivanand reached a vaccine centre in Durga Kund on Wednesday and left the medical staff stunned into silence when he presented his Aadhaar card. His date of birth on the Aadhar card is mentioned as August 8, 1896, which makes him 125-year-old. Initially, the medical staff showed some hesitancy but Shivanand insisted on getting the jab and finally got one.

A resident of Kabir Nagar colony in Bhelupur area, Shivanand had reached the vaccine centre alone to get the jab. He even waited for the mandatory half hour at the centre and then went home. Shivanand told reporters that the reason for his longevity is ‘simple food and regular life.’

“I wake up at 3 am and go to the Ganga River for a bath. Then I do Yoga. I eat very simple food with little or no oil and spices. I come from a very poor family and till date, I never had a full diet. I eat only half of my appetite. It keeps reminding me of my humble background,” he said.

Shivanand does all his work on his own and does not take help from any family member. He is now looking forward to taking the second dose of the vaccine next month.

Prior to him, Dholi Devi, believed to be 120, got inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine dose in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur.