Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised the entire country for managing to administer more than a million doses on the second day within five days.
He also praised the hard work of the COVID warriors and the diligence of the citizens to help achieve the momentous feat of more than 50 million administrations accumulated from the first dose of the vaccine.
“Another milestone reached in the world ‘s largest vaccination campaign under PM @NarendraModi ji. 50 million people received their first dose of vaccine # COVID19.
Another milestone achieved in the largest vaccination campaign in the world under the collection of people from PM @NarendraModi ji.50 … https://t.co/IsdvF8ct0L
– Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) 1630415282000
“I applaud the hard work of the COVID warriors and the diligence of the citizens to help achieve this momentous feat,” Mandaviya tweeted.
“Congratulations, as India administers another 1 billion vaccine vaccine # COVID19 today. The highest one-day record of 1.09 doses of vaccines reached by 6 p.m., and still recommended! tweet.
1⃣ Crore, 2⃣ Times, in 5⃣ days Congratulations as India today administers 1 vaccine of more than # COVID19 vaccines … https://t.co/N6Q9ZKcsoJ
– Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) 1630414630000
India took 85 days to reach the figure of ten million. Then it took 45 days to surpass the 20 million mark and another 29 days to reach 30 million. It took the country 24 days to reach 40 million and then another 20 days to cross 50, on August 6th. It took another 19 days to surpass the 60 million mark on August 25th.
“India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded today’s 65 million (65,12,14,767) target,” the health ministry said in a statement.
The daily vaccination count is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports of the day late at night.
Cumulatively, 25,32,89,059 individuals in the 18-44 age group in all states and UT have received their first dose and 2,85,62,650 have received their second dose since the onset of phase 3 of the vaccination union, according to the health ministry which cited an interim report until 7 p.m.
According to an official source, the average vaccine dose of 74.09 lakh has been administered daily in India over the past week.
“No other country has vaccinated its people at such a fast pace as India.
“India occupies the preferred position in the number of doses of vaccines administered daily, followed by Brazil, which administers an average of 17.04 lakh per day,” the source said.
India administered 17 shots of vaccines in the shortest period of 114 days, which is a world record.
The U.S. took 115 days and China took 119 days to administer the same number of doses, official sources said.
On August 27, India administered more than a million doses of vaccine a day, a feat that no other country has been able to emulate yet, the source said, adding that it is like vaccinating twice all the population of New Zealand.
India went ahead and broke its own record within five days by administering 1.09 doses of crora until 6pm.
Uttar Pradesh has only administered 7.20 million vaccines as of August 31st.
In comparison, India’s neighbor Pakistan has inoculated 5.33 million people so far, the official source said.
All eligible beneficiaries of Himachal Pradesh have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines.
There are at least eight states and UTs where 75% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, sources said.
The nationwide vaccination campaign unfolded on January 16 with the inoculation of health workers (HCW) in the first phase. Vaccination of front-line workers (FLW) began on 2 February.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination began on March 1 for people over 60 and people 45 and older with specified co-morbid conditions.
The country began vaccination for all people over the age of 45 as of April 1st.
The government then decided to expand its vaccination unit, as it allowed all people over the age of 18 to be vaccinated from 1 May.
(With agency contributions)