NEW DELHI: India achieved a major milestone in its battle against Covid-19 as cumulative vaccinations in the country crossed the 100 crore mark on Thursday.
After China, which has administered more than 200 crore doses, India is only the second country to have reached the landmark of 100 crore jabs. While the vaccination graphs of countries with significant populations like the US, Brazil and Indonesia have been largely flat, India’s has been rising steeply. Almost 75% of the eligible population has taken at least the first dose, with eight states and UTs achieving 100% coverage of the first dose. Four more states and UTs have more than 90% coverage of the first dose, according to government data.

After a slow start, which saw it take 85 days to administer the first 10 crore (100 million) doses, India almost halved the time taken to reach the next 10 crore to 46 days. The vaccination drive picked up pace thereafter, taking 28 days for the next 10 crore. The shortest time taken to 10 crore was just 11 days (from 70 crore to 80 crore). While it took India a total of 202 days to reach the 50 crore mark after it began giving shots, it took just 76 days more to hit the 100 crore landmark. A record 2.5 crore doses were administered in a single day on September 17, 2021.
In cumulative numbers too, India ranks second to China in fully vaccinating over 28 crore of its population, at least 10 crore more than the US and equal to the fully immunised population of Japan, Germany, Russia, France and the UK put together.

Commemorating the achievement, banners were put up at some central government hospitals and refreshments were distributed among the hospital staff and beneficiaries who had come for vaccination.
The Archaeological Survey of India lit up 100 of its heritage monuments in colours of the tricolour to mark the milestone as a tribute to health professionals, frontline workers, scientists, vaccine manufacturers and the citizens of the country who bravely fought the pandemic.
Besides that, some mobile networks caller tunes mentioning completion of 100 crore doses was also introduced.

Calling the achievement historic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed doctors, nurses and all those who had worked tirelessly to enable this moment. “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. #VaccineCentury”,” the PM said in a tweet.
“To counter the largest pandemic in 100 years, the country now has a strong protective shield of 100 crore vaccine doses. This achievement belongs to India and its citizens,” said the PM as he inaugurated the Infosys Foundation Vishram Sadan at the National Cancer Institute in the Jhajjar campus of AIIMS via video conferencing.
In a statement on Twitter, home minister Amit Shah highlighted that “the milestone has re-acquainted the whole world with the immense capabilities of New India.” He thanked all scientists, researchers and health workers who have contributed in this task by overcoming many challenges.
During the course of the day many cabinet ministers joined in as they issued congratulatory messages and thanked the scientists and medical fraternity for enabling the one billion milestone.

BJP applauded the vaccination milestone with party president J P Nadda in a press statement asserting that, “within nine months of the setting up of the ‘Vaccine Task Force‘ India successfully developed not one but two world class ‘Made In India‘ Covid vaccines. And now within 278 days, India, under the decisive leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has once again surprised the entire world by reaching the 100 crore mark of the vaccination administered in the country.”
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the vaccine manufacturing companies of the country, the workers involved in vaccine transportation and the health sector professionals involved in the vaccination,” Modi said as he spoke about his visit earlier in the day to a vaccination centre at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi. “There is enthusiasm and there is also a sense of responsibility that together we have to defeat Corona as soon as possible.” In a tweet posted on his handle, the PM had shared pictures of his interactions with patients and medical staff on duty at the RML vaccination centre.
The PM reminded the audience at the event in Jhajjar about his emphasis on ‘sabka prayas’ (everybody’s effort) during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. Modi said healthcare is a great example of how the public and private sector, individuals and social organisations can work together to make a difference.