India distributes 25 million jabs, setting world record for single-day inoculations
The Center was assured of 200 million doses of Covishield by Serum Institute of India and 35 million doses of Covaxin by Bharat Biotech this month. About 10 million doses of the newly approved Zydus Cadila vaccine for ages 12 and up will also be available by the end of this month. This will help India cross the billion mark by October 10, before the festival season begins with Durga Puja on October 11 and Dussehra on October 15. The peak of 25 million was reached on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, one minute before midnight. The previous record was 14 million doses on August 31. With this, India claimed to have set a world record, beating China whose highest daily vaccination is 23 million doses.
India administered a total of 797 million doses, ahead of Europe (777 million doses), North America (593 million doses) and South America (403 million doses), data shows government. More than 10 million doses were given in a single day for the fourth time in a month, counting Friday. According to government data, the peak vaccination rate on Friday was 3,000 to 4,000 doses per second.
Focus on states linked to elections
“We are administering 77 to 80 lakh doses per day at least five days per week,” said a senior health ministry official. “Sunday administration is down slightly and a day is set aside by states as a regular non-Covid vaccination day. We have set ourselves a goal of crossing the billion mark by October 10.”
As of Friday evening, India had covered 63.45% of its targeted adult population with at least one dose and 21.04% with both doses. States and Union territories such as Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have exceeded the national average.
Health ministry sources said the government is prioritizing election-related states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Goa, to ensure the population is fully immunized before the start of mass gatherings.
“Our goal is to fully immunize election-related states even before any form of campaigning begins,” the senior official said. “Himachal Pradesh administered the first dose to 100% of the population. UP, with such a large population, covered 50% of the population. Gujarat 79% and Goa are also doing well. We urged Punjab to increase the pace. ”
The government expects the vaccine from Biological E and Sputnik Lite to successfully complete Phase 3 trials, after which their use will be approved.
“More and more vaccines will be available by October and we should be able to fully immunize the entire population this year,” the official said.
