India has overtaken the United States (US) in the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered so far, the Union Health Ministry said today. “India achieves another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and overtakes the US in the total number of Covid vaccine doses administered,” the Health Ministry said.
While India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16, and has administered over 32.36 crore doses to date, the US which started its inoculation drive on December 14, 2020 has given over 32.33 crore doses. The UK, which was the first country to start the vaccination has jabbed 7.67 crores.
India’s cumulative vaccination coverage exceeded 32.36 crores on Sunday. A total of 32,36,63,297 vaccine doses have been administered through 43,21,898 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Monday, the ministry said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning tweeted: “India’s vaccination drive keeps gaining momentum! Congrats to all those who are driving this effort. Our commitment remains vaccines for all, free for all.”
As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advanced visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them and streamlining the vaccine supply chain.
“More than 31.69 crores (31,69,40,160) vaccine doses have been provided by Government of India to States/UTs so far, through Government of India (free of cost channel) and through direct state procurement category,” the Union Health Ministry said.
On Sunday, while addressing his monthly radio programme – “Mann Ki Baat”, PM Modi had urged people to shed vaccine hesitancy and take the jabs. “My mother is almost a hundred years old, she has taken both vaccines too. Please do not believe any rumours relating to vaccines,” the Prime Minister had said.
Meanwhile, India’s fresh coronavirus cases continued seeing a downward trend today with less than 50,000 new infections reported. With 46,148 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours and 979 deaths, the overall cases tally went up to 3,02,79,331 and the total number of deaths to 3.96 lakh. The active cases declined to 5,72,994, the data updated at 8 am showed.
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