India has reached a significant global milestone in the fight against the pandemic by reporting a record 97% first-dose coverage and 90% of its adult population receiving both vaccine doses. The country administered around 4.90 lakh doses on Sunday, bringing the total vaccinations to 2,00,03,73,288. India is currently conducting a 75-day vaccination drive, offering the third precaution dose for free at all government vaccination centers.
Two key features of India’s immunization coverage are the establishment of 74% of vaccination centers in rural areas, with 71% of vaccination coverage reported from rural areas, and 51.1% of recipients being women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated all Indians on surpassing 200 crore vaccine doses, praising the unparalleled scale and speed of India’s vaccination drive in strengthening the global fight against COVID-19.
The rollout of India’s vaccination drive, the world’s largest, began on January 16, 2021, and prioritized vulnerable population groups in seven phases. Healthcare workers, frontline workers, and elderly recipients have received two doses and precaution shots, with certain cities administering the most double doses.
India also started vaccinating children aged 12-18, with plans for children under 12 pending a decision from the government’s expert body. The vaccination drive has utilized the country’s strong child immunization infrastructure, involving a large number of vaccinators and vaccination team members and mobilizing a record number of syringes. The existing cold chain for vaccine storage and transportation was expanded to accommodate the vaccination drive, with additional refrigerators and freezers made available. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya applauded India’s achievement of 200 crore vaccinations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, hailing the consistent record-breaking success of the world’s largest vaccination drive.
