India crosses 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine milestone

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 21 (EMN): In a remarkable feat in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, India achieved the milestone of administering 100 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses on Thursday.

In less than 10 months of rolling out the Covid-19 vaccine across the country on January 16 in a phased manner, over 75% of eligible adult population has been administered at least the first dose and over 31% both the doses, according to official sources.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the vaccination centre at the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and interacted with the staff and beneficiaries after achieving the milestone.

“Today, when India has achieved a vaccine century, I went to a vaccination centre at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The vaccine has brought pride and protection in the lives of our citizens,” tweeted Modi.

In terms of vaccine doses administered so far, India is second globally, only next to China.

Nagaland joins celebration

Nagaland also celebrated the feat along with the rest of the country.

“It is indeed a proud moment for India. Grateful to our dedicated health workers and all those who worked hard towards achieving this incredible milestone,” Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted.

A lot had gone into ensuring all eligible persons receive the Covid-19 vaccine, development of Co-WIN App, training of human resources, setting up of cold chain points and upgrading existing ones and delivery of billions of vaccines to stop the spread of Covid-19 is one of the greatest logistic challenges ever undertaken, read a press statement from State Immunisation Officer, Dr. Ritu Thurr.

This feat has been achieved by the concentrated efforts of the healthcare workers, frontline workers, allied departments and agencies all over the country working together in co-ordination, he added.

‘To bring the pandemic to an end, a large share of the world needs to be immune to the virus. The safest way to achieve this is with a vaccine. Vaccines are technology that humanity has often relied on in the past to bring down the death toll of infectious diseases. While the best vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalisation and death, it takes co-ordinated efforts to stop a pandemic,’ he said.

‘In Nagaland, healthcare workers are working tirelessly to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries get their Covid-19 vaccine doses. The team members have to walk for hours to reach the session site due to lack of pliable roads but we work to ensure that no one is left behind,’ he added while thanking healthcare workers for their hard work and sincerity in the collective reach of the 100 crore vaccine doses landmark.

Stating that vaccination is the only long term solution, he urged all eligible persons who are yet to take the vaccine to come forward and take it in order to keep their family and community safe.

11.5 lakh doses administered in state

Nagaland has administered a total of 11,59,659 doses of Covid vaccine as on October 20, according to the Health department.

Out of the total doses administered, 7,04,210 have taken the first dose while 4,55,449 the second dose. Among the healthcare workers category, 15,998 have taken the first dose while 13352 have taken both the doses.

In the frontline workers category, 60,957 and 47,779 have been administered with the first and second doses respectively. Among the category of 45 years and above, 2,01,110 and 1,54,184 have been administered with the first and second doses respectively.

Among the 18 to 44 years group, as many as 4,26,145 have taken the first dose and 2,40,134 have taken both doses.