Goa, the country’s prime tourist destination, has succeeded in administering the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine to all adults in the state and now aims to complete the second dose as well by October 31.

Goa has become the second state after Himachal Pradesh, which also happens to be a tourist hotspot,  to achieve the milestone of giving the first dose to its entire adult population.

"We have completed 100% first dose of vaccination in the state and are targeting to complete the second dose of vaccination by October 31", Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant said on Friday.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded Goa for administering the first dose of Covid -19 vaccine to 100% eligible population in the state.

While sharing a tweet by the Chief Minister of Goa, the Prime Minister said "Well done Goa! Great effort, powered by a collective spirit and the prowess of our doctors as well as innovators."

Goa has achieved a significant milestone even as the neighbouring states like Kerala and Maharashtra have been seeing a sharp increase Covid-19 cases. Kerala has been accounting for 70% of the country’s daily count of fresh coronavirus cases.

The Goa CM said, “We are very much in control and I am requesting all the people take the second dose on time."

He said Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated in the state adhering to Covid-19 protocols. The CM said the state government is prepared to face the third wave with all the necessary health infrastructure in place, but it expects people to take precautions.