India crosses landmark milestone with 13 crore COVID vaccine doses administered in 95 days
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India on Wednesday became the fastest country across the world to have administered 13 crore coronavirus vaccinations within 95 days, according to latest Union Health Ministry data.
America is in the second position as it managed to reach the 13 crore mark in 101 days, followed by China, which took 109 days to reach the same target, it said.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has reached 13,00,27,370 with 28,98,257 vaccine doses being given in a span of 24 hours, according to data updated at 8 am on Wednesday.
The total number of samples tested on Tuesday was 16,39,357 adding to a total of 27,10,53,392 samples tested in India till April 20.
Eight states -- Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala -- 59.33 per cent of the total doses given so far in the country.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.
The government on Monday has also decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 eligible to be vaccinated from May 1.
Meanwhile, India witnessed a jump of 295,041 COVID cases and 2,023 deaths in the last 24 hours, both figures are the highest ever since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the latest data released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday morning.