India crosses 20 crore vaccinations mark in 130 days
Darpan News Desk IANS, 26 May, 2021 09:56 AM
New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) India has crossed 20 crore cumulative Covid-19 vaccinations, achieving this milestone in 130 days since the start of the vaccination drive on January 16, the Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Wednesday.
On the 130th day, the cumulative Covid vaccination coverage stood at 20,06,62,456 doses, including 15,71,49,593 first doses and 4,35,12,863 second doses, as per data available at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
India is the second country after the US, which took 124 days, to achieve this level.
Also, as per the data available on Our World In Data and multiple news articles, other leading countries in Covid vaccination drive include the UK which has reached 5.1 crore mark in 168 days, Brazil with 5.9 crore in 128 days, and Germany which reached 4.5 crore mark in 149 days.
As per the latest available data with the Union Health Ministry, over 34 per cent population above 45 years, and 42 per cent above 60 years, has received at least the first dose of the vaccine so far.
As of date, India is using three vaccines against COVID-19 in its immunisation drive; these include two made in India vaccines - Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The 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 few private hospitals so far.
In Phase 1 of the vaccination drive, started on January 16, the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) prioritised all health care workers, and front line workers, while Phase 2, starting from March 1, focused on protecting the most vulnerable age group - persons above 60 years of age and persons above 45 years with associated specified co-morbidities. This was further relaxed to all people above 45 years of age on April 1.
In Phase 3, under the "Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy" adopted on May 1, everyone above 18 years of age was eligible for the vaccination.
Hundreds of Sikhs from Punjab on Wednesday joined the anti-citizenship law protestors at South East Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, demanding withdrawal of the contentious legislation.
According to UN estimates, India is expected to add nearly 273 million people between 2019 and 2050, while the population of Nigeria is projected to grow by 200 million.
CAA Protests: One of Sadaf Jafar's friends, Deepak Kabir was also taken into custody by the UP Police after he went to enquire about her, said Swara Bhasker.
Marco Monteiro was born on October 3, 1998 in Karachi and later moved to Australia with his mother, the official said, adding that he now holds an Australian citizenship.
Swara Bhasker, who has been vocal in her criticism of the new citizenship law, termed it a "targeted" law and claimed it is an "attack" on the Constitution of India.
