India crosses 100 crore Covid vaccination milestone

India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country crossed the 100-crore mark on Thursday.

The nationwide inoculation drive started on January 16, and in just nine month, the country recorded a 'vaccine century'.

Hailing the vaccination milestone as a triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country has scripted history.

He visited the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi after the 100-crore mark was achieved and interacted with hospital officials.

The government has planned a series of events to celebrate the occasion, including the release of a song and display of India's larget tricolour at the Red Fort.

All major monuments under the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will also be illuminated, and ships anchored at various ports will hoot their horns.

The Union health ministry had started a digital countdown metre to determine the number of vaccination doses left to administer to reach the one billion target. The government is celebrating on Twitter with the hashtag #VaccineCentury.

Congratulating the country for the vaccination landmark, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia, said it was not possible without strong political leadership.

According to official sources, over 75 per cent of India's all eligible adult population has been administered at least the first dose and around 31 per cent has received both the doses of the vaccine.