India reached the milestone of 100 crore COVID-19 vaccinations on Thursday and is second only to China to have crossed 100 crore jabs. China has administered over 200 crore shots.

The COVID vaccination graph in India has been rising steeply, while that of US, Brazil and Indonesia has been predominantly flat. Around 75% of the eligible individuals have received at least the first vaccine dose. Overall, 8 states and UTs have achieved 100% first shot coverage, while 4 other states and UTs have achieved over 90% first dose coverage.

India administered the first 10 crore vaccine doses in 85 days, but then, the time was reduced to half to reach the next 10 crore days to a mere 46 days. Thereafter, the next 10 crore doses were administered in only 28 days. The shortest duration to administer 10 crore jabs was only 11 days, which was taken to reach the 80 crore mark from 70 crores.

The country took 202 days to reach the 50 crore dose mark, but took only 76 days to reach 100 crores. A total of 2.5 crore doses were administered on September 17, 2021. India is second only to China when it comes to fully vaccinating more than 28 crore of the population, which is around 10 crore more than the US, and on a par with the fully vaccination population of Germany, Japan, France, Russia, and the UK, taken together.

Celebrating the feat, banners were put up at some of the central government hospitals and refreshments were distributed among the staff and the beneficiaries who had turned up to get their jabs. Moreover, the Archaeological Survey of India lit up 100 heritage monuments in the hues of the National Flag as a tribute to healthcare professionals, frontline workers, scientists, vaccine manufacturers and the country’s citizens. Some mobile network caller tunes also mentioned the completion of 100 crore doses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a historic feat and applauded the nation’s doctors, nurses, and everyone who had worked tirelessly towards this goal. In his tweet, he said, "India scripts history. We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all those who worked to achieve this feat. #Vaccine Century.”

While inaugurating the Infosys Foundation Vishram Sadanat the National Cancer Institute in AIIMS Jhajjar campus through video conference, the PM said, “To counter the largest pandemic in 100 years, the country now has a strong protective shield of 100 crore vaccine doses. This achievement belongs to India and its citizens.”

Home minister Amit Shah also thanked the scientists, researchers and healthcare workers who have contributed in this task. Several cabinet ministers congratulated and thanked the scientists and the medical fraternity who contributed to the achievement of this milestone.

Source: ET Healthworld