India took 34 days to achieve the landmark feat of one crore COVID-19 vaccinations, the second-fastest in the world, the health ministry said on Friday. The Union ministry of health and family welfare said on Friday India has administered the third-highest number of vaccines globally with 10.1 million doses of the anti-coronavirus disease (Covid-19) shot across the country. The data shared by the health ministry shows that India is behind only the United States and the United Kingdom in terms of the total number of vaccinations. While the US has completed 56.28 million vaccinations in 66 days and the UK has administered 16.5 million doses in 72 days, India has recorded 10.1 million vaccinations in 35 days.
Till 8 am on Friday, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered to healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) in the country was 1,01,88,007. “A total of 1,01,88,007 vaccine doses have been administered through2,11,462 sessions, as per the provisional report till 8 am. These include62,60,242 HCWs (1st dose), 6,10,899 HCWs (2nd dose)and33,16,866 FLWs (1st dose),” the ministry said.
The government talking of ramping up vaccination sessions points at plans to start vaccinating the priority population groups of above 50 years of age and those with co-morbidities by early or mid-March. The government plans to significantly ramp up vaccination sessions across the country and states as well as the private sector have been roped in to facilitate the same. “This will enable people to fix up vaccination appointments at sessions of their choice, in a nearby location and convenient time.
A total 13,193 fresh cases of the coronavirus infection were recorded in a span of 24 hours, the ministry said, adding that 86.6 per cent of those were reported from six states. Maharashtra accounted for the highest number of 5,427 cases, followed by Kerala (4,584) and Tamil Nadu (457).
