India’s 50% eligible population inoculated with first dose

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India, on Thursday, August 26, said that India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 61 crore. Around 68 lakh doses were administered to people on Thursday itself, the Ministry said.

It stated that the vaccination drive has been a highly effective tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country against COVID-19. This exercise continues to be regularly reviewed at the highest level. Moreover, around 23,18,95,731 individuals falling in the age group of 18-44 years received their first jab, and 2,33,74,357 received their second jab since the start of the third phase of the vaccination drive, according to the health ministry’s data. The first phase of the vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 starting for healthcare workers, followed by frontline workers starting February 2. “India achieves unprecedented milestone with 50 percent of the eligible population vaccinated with the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, tweeted.

However, Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), underlined again that vaccination does not prevent disease but reduces its severity and wearing masks should continue to remain mandatory.