Dalai Lama gets COVID-19 vaccine, touts benefits

The Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader in Tibet, received his COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday and encouraged others to get it when they have the chance.

“In order to prevent some serious problems, this injection is very, very helpful,” the Dalai Lama said, according to The Associated Press.

Medical staff watched him for 30 minutes after the Dalai Lama got the Covishield vaccine in a hospital in India.

India just opened its vaccinations to the elderly after they focused on vaccinating health-care workers in January and February.

Many high-profile leaders in various countries have received the shot in order to instill public confidence in the vaccine so more people will be willing to get vaccinated.

Other leaders who have received the coronavirus vaccine include President Biden, former President Trump, Queen Elizabeth and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others.

India has seen more than 11 million reported cases of the coronavirus and over 150,000 related deaths as the world’s second-largest country seeks to vaccinate its more than 1 billion people.

Countries are trying to get their populations vaccinated as quickly as possible in an effort to quickly reopen their economies following the year-long pandemic.