Vaccine anniversary: India administers 157 crore Covid-19 doses

As India completed one year of Covid-19 vaccination, claimed to be the world's largest and most successful vaccination drive, a total of 157 crore vaccine doses were given across the country, including 66.21 lakh doses given on Sunday. While 65.65 crore Indians have taken both the doses, first dose has been taken by 91.08 crore people. India had completed 100 crore doses in nine months. It took 20 years for the country (in 2014) to administer 100 crore doses of polio vaccine and BCG vaccination is yet to complete 100 crore doses even after 32 years.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) data, the global average of persons fully vaccinated per 100 population is 50.03, whereas that in some of the world's most populous countries such as India are (44.72%), US (61.07%), China (82.69%), Brazil (67.27%) and Russian Federation (43.57%).

Mansukh Mandaviya, union minister of health and family welfare, yesterday released a commemorative postal stamp on Covid-19 vaccine to mark the 1st anniversary of India's national Covid-19 vaccination programme. The commemorative stamp design features a healthcare worker inoculating a senior citizen with Covid-19 vaccine, along with an image of 'Covaxin' vial, India's indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine.

"Our vaccination programme is in fact a role model for the global community. It is because of Jan Bhagidari that India was able to achieve this feat. Despite having a high density of population, we have been able to administer more than 156 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses. India has encountered various challenges along the journey but it is the resolve and dedication of more than 135 crore people that we could overcome every challenge," he said.

The country has fully vaccinated 10.05 crore people above 60 years and first dose was given to another 12.30 crore seniors. In the 45-59 year age group, 16.06 crore are fully vaccinated while 19.74 crore took the first dose. In the 18-44 age group, 36.77 crore Indians are fully vaccinated, while the first dose was given to 52.43 crore people. In the age group of 15-18 years, 3.38 crore children have been vaccinated, while 'Precaution doses' or booster vaccines have been given to 14.45 lakh people. The country gave 135.63 crore doses of Covishield, while 21 crore doses of Covaxin was used in the vaccination drive.