October 21, 2021
The feat has been achieved in a mere nine months since the commencement of the vaccination drive.
Till now 704.4 million people have received the first dose and 291.3 million people have been fully vaccinated.
Since the past week, the trend of the number of first doses exceeding that of the second doses has been reversed.
A major challenge is the complete vaccination of the frontline and healthcare workers, among whom 10.3 million are fully vaccinated.
India’s milestone of surpassing the administration of one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses today is set to be achieved, after a mere nine months of the GOI commencing the massive immunization drive across the country. To mark the occasion, which has been hailed #VaccineCentury, numerous events, such as the release of a song and an audio visual film by the Hon’ble health minister Shri Mansukh Mandaviya at the Red Fort, according to officials. Free rides will be provided to the first fully vaccinated visitors at Mansadevi and Chandidevi ropeways in Haridwar, Malampuzha and Jatayupura ropeways in Kerala, and three ropeway projects in Junagadh, Halol and Ambaji, by Usha Breco, which operates ropeway rides under the brand name Udan Khatola.
Simultaneous to reaching the one billion mark, the GOI has also been repeatedly highlighting the importance of being inoculated with the second dose and urging the citizens to cooperate. Health state secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan, during an interaction with state governments, underlined the need for citizens to complete their vaccination and for states to cover districts with low vaccine uptake. In the past week, the trend of the number of first doses surpassing the second doses has been reversed, with an increased number of beneficiaries receiving the second shots exceeding those taking the first dose. However, the first doses exceed the overall second vaccine doses, with 704.4 million first doses and 291.3 million second doses of the total 995.4 million doses administered since the vaccination drive commenced in the country.
The complete vaccination of healthcare and frontline workers, the two priority groups to receive the vaccinations in the beginning, continues to be the major challenge.. Around 10.3 million healthcare workers have been vaccinated with the first dose, while about 9.1 million among them have received the second dose.