Cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India cross 208.21 crore-mark: Health ministry

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed the 208.21 crore-mark on Sunday, with over 20 lakh doses administered till 7 pm, the Union health ministry said. The daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late night.

With 16,24,241 precaution doses administered to those aged 18-59 years till 7 pm, the total number of precaution doses given in this age-group has reached 6,68,15,334 so far, the ministry data said. Those aged 60 years and above have been administered 3.65 crore precaution doses so far.

Over 3.97 crore children in the age group of 12-14 years have been administered the first dose, while more than 6.14 crore adolescents in the age group 15-18 years have been given the first dose. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 last year with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. Vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2 last year.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 last year for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified comorbid conditions. Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1 last year. The government then decided to expand the ambit of the vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 years to be inoculated against Covid from May 1 last year. Vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years began on April 1 last year.