India vaccinates more than 10 million in one day

Gulf Today Report

India on Friday, for the first time, administered more than 10 million Covid-19 jabs in a single day, under its nationwide mass vaccination drive against Covid-19.

Authorities said on Saturday that this is the highest-ever vaccination achieved in a single day since the start of the vaccination drive, as the South Asian giant bolsters its defences for a predicted new surge.

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The health ministry said the landmark was passed on Friday, beating the country's previous daily record of 9.2 million.

In another significant achievement, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed the 620,000,000 crore landmark and presently stands at 621,706,882, as per the provisional report of the Health Ministry.

A woman gets a vaccine jab from a health worker.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the milestone as a "momentous feat" for the nation of 1.3 billion people.

"Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success," he said on Twitter.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said: "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas — This is the same effort by which the country has crossed the figure of more than 10 million vaccines in a day. The tireless work of health workers and PM Modi's determination to #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine is paying off."

India's daily infection count has dropped dramatically since the devastating surge in April-May which overwhelmed its creaking health infrastructure.

Almost all restrictions on movement and activity have been lifted even though experts have warned of a new wave hitting as early as next month as the festival season starts.

In a separate development, India has also crossed the landmark milestone of administering at least one dose of Covid vaccine to 50 per cent of its adult population.