India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage crosses 37 crore

New Delhi: India's cumulative COVID vaccination coverage crossed the landmark of 37 crore (37,19,25,602), 175 days after the nationwide inoculation drive commenced on January 16, as per the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

The new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June. More than 27.86 lakh (27,86,028) vaccine doses have been administered today including 13,28,636 first shots, and 1,24,570 second jabs, as per the 7 pm provisional report.

Cumulatively, 10,98,62,585 persons in the age group of 18-44 years across 37 states/UTs have received their first dose, while 35,08,932 persons have received their second dose since the start of the Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.

Eight states -- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra -- have administered more than 50 lakh first doses in the age group of 18-44 years.

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have vaccinated more than 10 lakh beneficiaries in the age group of 18-44 years with the first dose of Covid vaccine.

Meanwhile, the Central government on Friday said that it is working actively with vaccine manufacturer Moderna to see how its Covid vaccine –– which was granted emergency use authorisation last month –– can be imported and made available in the country.

India reported 43,393 new cases and 911 deaths due to Covid-19 in the 24 hours ending 9 am Friday, taking the caseload and death toll to 3,07,52,950 and 4,05,939, respectively. As many as 44,459 people recovered on Thursday, taking the cumulative recoveries to 29,888,284. Active cases have declined to 4,58,727 and constitute 1.50 per cent of the caseload.