India Completes 20 cr Vaccination, 2nd After US

The Union Ministry said on Wednesday that India has become the second country after the US to have crossed the 20 crore mark in COVID-19 vaccination coverage in a span of 130 days, while the US achieved the feat in 124 days. But, the US reached a new milestone by fully vaccinating 50 per cent of its adults against the virus. Where as India vaccinated only 3.1 per cent of the second dose and 11 per cent of first dose vaccinations.

Talking about other countries, we have the UK surpassed the 5.1 crore mark in 168 days, Brazil reached the 5.9 crore mark in 128 days, and Germany reached the 4.5 crore mark in 149 days. As per the data available at 7 am today morning, India crossed 20 crore mark on the 130th day of the drive( 20,06,62,456 doses including 15,71,49,593 first dose and 4,35,12,863 second dose of COVID-19 vaccines). 

It is to be understood that at least the first dose of the COVID vaccine has been given to over 34 per cent of the population above 45 years to date. Similarly, over 42 per cent of the 60+ years of the population in India has received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry said.  The nation is using three vaccines against COVID-19 in its immunisation drive. 

Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Russian Sputnik V is the third vaccine to get approval from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for Emergency Use Authorisation and is being used in a few private hospitals which are expected to be increased over the coming days.