The government on Thursday hailed India's vaccine century as the logged over a 100 crore Covid-19 vaccinations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked event with doctors and healthcare workers at Delhi's RML hospital on Thursday morning.
Hailing the historic achievement, the PM tweeted: "India scripts history. We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians. Congrats India on crossing 100 crore vaccinations. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all those who worked to achieve this feat".
Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted "Congratulations, India" on achieving the historic feat.
India is the first country in the world to have administered over a billion Covid vaccine doses.
The number is twice the number of vaccines administered in the United States, five times that of Japan, nine times that of Germany and 10 times the number of vaccine doses administered in France, the government said in a presentation hailing the 'vaccine century'
The World Health Organisation also commended India's feat in Covid vaccination. "The extraordinary feat in a short span was not possible without strong political leadership, inter-sectoral convergence, dedicated efforts of the entire health & frontline workforce" Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia said.
It took just nine months for the country to cross the historic figure. The government has planned a number of events to mark the occasion, including launching of a song and display of the country's largest tricolour at the Red Fort in Delhi.
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