New Delhi: In a landmark milestone, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage crossed the 75 crore doses mark on Monday, the Union Health Ministry informed.
A total of 75,10,41,391 vaccine doses have been administered to the eligible beneficiaries so far, out of which 67,04,768 vaccine doses were administered till 5:30 pm today, it stated.
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"The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late tonight. The country has also become home to more than 99 per cent healthcare workers (HCWs) and frontline workers (FLWs) vaccinated with one shot of COVID vaccine," the Ministry wrote in an official statement.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also celebrated the achievement and tweeted, "Congratulations India! With Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayas, the world's largest vaccination campaign is continuously creating new dimensions. #AazadiKaAmritMahotsav, that is in the 75th year of independence, the country has crossed the figure of 75 crore vaccinations."
"Tricolour is soaring high in all aspects! Congratulations to all countrymen, as India administers 75 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses, in our 75th year of independence," Office of Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted.
WHO South-East Asia (SEARO) also congratulated India for COVID-19 vaccination for achieving 75 crore mark, appreciating the accelerated inoculation drive.
"WHO congratulates India for scaling up COVID-19 vaccination at an unprecedented pace. While it took 85 days to administer first 100 million doses, India reached 750 million doses from 650 million in just 13 days," Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia was quoted as saying in a tweet by WHO South-East Asia.
The cumulative first doses administered to date amounts to 56,95,77,696, while 18,14,63,695 second doses have been given.
"The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level," the health ministry stated in its release.