A 124-year-old woman in India who claims to be the oldest person in the world has received her first coronavirus jab.
NDTV reports that Rehtee Begum, from Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, was among more than 9,000 people to be given a vaccine in the area on Wednesday (2 June).
Officials have not given proof of her age, but Jammu and Kashmir's Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) posted a photo of Begum receiving her 'first dose', saying her age was '124 years'.
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While unverified, if the age cited by officials is true, it makes Begum the oldest woman in the world.
According to NDTV, her age is based on an entry on a ration card belonging to her son, which says her age is 124.
However, there has been no official confirmation or corroboration, as there has been no proof provided by Begum or her family.
The DIPR said Begum received her jab during 'door to door' vaccinations.
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Officials added that a total of 9,289 people - including healthcare and frontline workers - were vaccinated on Wednesday across 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that a total of 33,58,004 jabs have been administered in the union-territory.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest living person in the world is 118-year-old Kane Tanaka, of Japan.
The oldest person ever was Jeanne Louise Calment from Arles, France, who died at the age of 122 years and 164 days old.
Earlier this year, Europe's oldest person managed to survive coronavirus, having shown no symptoms of the deadly virus.
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French nun Lucile Randon, who took the name of Sister Andre in 1944, celebrated her 117th birthday on 11 February.
According to French media, Sister Andre tested positive for the virus on 16 January, but didn't develop any symptoms.
Speaking to French newspaper Var-Matin, she said: "I didn't even realise I had it."
After testing positive, Sister Andre was isolated at her retirement home in Toulon, southern France, away from other residents.
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When asked by French broadcaster BFM if she felt scared when she had coronavirus, Sister Andre - who is blind and uses a wheelchair - replied: "No, I wasn't scared, because I wasn't scared to die.
"I'm happy to be with you, but I would wish to be somewhere else - to join my big brother, and my grandfather and my grandmother."
David Tavella, spokesman for the Sainte Catherine Labouré retirement home, said Sister Andre has been 'very lucky', telling Var-Matin newspaper: "She didn't ask me about her health, but about her habits. For example, she wanted to know if meal or bedtime schedules would change.
"She showed no fear of the disease. On the other hand, she was very concerned about the other residents."
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Featured Image Credit: DIPR
Topics: World News, News, vaccine, Coronavirus, India
