In yet another milestone for India in its inoculation drive, it has completed administering 5 crore doses so far
Bengaluru: In yet another milestone for India in its inoculation drive, it has completed vaccinating 5 crore of its citizens.
"These include 79,17,521 HCWs (1st dose), 50,20,695 HCWs (2nd dose), 83,62,065 FLWs (first dose) and 30,88,639 FLWs (second Dose), 47,01,894 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities (first Dose) and 2,17,50,472 beneficiaries aged more than 60 years," as per the health ministry.
"Of the total, 21,00,799 beneficiaries were vaccinated for first dose and 2,45,893 HCWs and FLWs received second dose of vaccine," the ministry added.
It might be recalled that started vaccinating its people on January 16, with preference to health line workers.
Later, on March 1, it was thrown open to those with 60 years of age and those with 45 years of age and with comorbidities.
Now, India’s vaccination drive is only getting bigger and better as the Union government has decided to vaccinate everyone aged 45 and above starting April 1.
Union minister Prakash Javdekar informed the country about the development.
“It has been decided that from 1st April, the vaccine will open for everybody above 45 years of age. We request that all eligible should immediately register and get vaccinated,” he said.
India, vaccine pharmacy of the world:
While India continues to vaccinate its people, it should also be noted that India has exported several lakhs of doses of vaccines to more than 10 countries.
These countries include Brazil, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa.
While India continues to export corona vaccines to the rest of the world, Serum Institute India chief Adar Poonawalla had announced last month that the company may launch a second coronavirus vaccine in June this year. It is needless to say it will India’s third vaccine if it gets green-signalled.
Poonawalla had taken to Twitter saying, "Our partnership for a COVID-19 vaccine with @Novavax has also published excellent efficacy results. We have also applied to start trials in India. Hope to launch #COVOVAX by June 2021!"
India also has another vaccine called the covaxin produced by Bharat Biotech.
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