BackIndia achieves ‘protective shield’ of 1 bn vaccinations
More than 31% of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated; 75% have got their first dose
PremiumNEW DELHI : India has administered more than one billion jabs since it started its covid-19 vaccination drive in January. While more than 31% of the eligible population has been fully vaccinated, 75% have received their first dose, the government said on Thursday.
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh led in terms of the number of vaccine doses administered so far, according to the Union health ministry.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to all healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, for achieving the milestone. In a tweet, Modi said: “India scripts history. We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise, and collective spirit of 130 crore (1.3 billion) Indians. Congrats India on crossing 100 crore (1 billion) vaccinations. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all who worked to achieve this feat."
The government said India was one of the fastest to reach the milestone and was running the world’s largest vaccination programme.
Modi also expressed his gratitude to vaccine manufacturers, workers engaged in vaccine transportation, and health sector professionals engaged in vaccine development. “To counter the largest pandemic in 100 years, the country now has a strong protective shield of 100 crore (1 billion) vaccine doses. This achievement belongs to India and its citizens," said Modi at the inauguration of Infosys Foundation’s Vishram Sadan at the National Cancer Institute’s Jhajjar campus, AIIMS New Delhi, via video conference.
To commemorate the achievement, celebrations were also planned across the country. Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya released a song by Kailash Kher and a film to mark the occasion. Ships anchored at Indian ports hooted to mark the billion doses, while state governments involved folk and handloom artists to celebrate the occasion through their artworks. The Archaeological Survey of India, under the ministry of culture, participated in the celebrations by illuminating 100 monuments, including UNESCO world heritage sites, in tricolour.
According to the health ministry, the first 100 million doses were administered in 85 days, while the last 100 million doses were given in just 24 days. Since 6 August, when India breached the 500 million dose mark, it took just 76 days to go past the 1 billion-dose mark.
The World Health Organization (WHO) too took note of India’s achievement. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Modi, the scientists, health workers, and the citizens of India for equitable vaccine distribution and administering 1 billion doses in just 279 days. “Congratulations, Prime Minister @narendramodi, the scientists, #healthworkers and people of #India, on your efforts to protect vulnerable populations from #COVID19 and achieve #VaccinEquity targets," he tweeted.
“Huge congratulations to India for marking yet another milestone—a billion covid-19 vaccine doses administered. This extraordinary feat in a short span was not possible without strong political leadership, inter-sectoral convergence, dedicated efforts of the entire health and front-line workforce, and the people. India’s progress must be viewed in the context of the country’s commendable commitment and efforts to ensure that these life-saving vaccines are accessible globally," said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia.
While the health ministry said 75% people above 18 years have been vaccinated with the first dose and over 31% of the population has been completely vaccinated, Johns Hopkins University’s covid-19 tracker said India has fully vaccinated only about 21% of its population.
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