Interview Times This morning India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 150-crore mark.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya termed it a “historic achievement” made possible because of the relentless hard work of healthcare workers under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Mandaviya tweeted in Hindi that, “When everyone makes efforts together then any goal can be achieved,”.
On October 21 India surpassed the 100-crore mark of the Coronavirus vaccine doses, which was celebrated all across the country.
As per the health ministry officials, over 91 percent of the adult population has received at least one dose while over 66 percent have been fully vaccinated. Over 22 percent of the eligible adolescents have been vaccinated with the first jab since the vaccination for this age group began on January 3.
On January 16, 2021, a countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2, 2021, onwards.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccinationcommenced from March 1, 2021, for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
The country launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1, 2021.
The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1, 2021.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced from January 3, 2022, for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years.
