India surpassed China’s record of the world’s highest number of Covid vaccination doses administered in a single day with 2.5 crore people being inoculated on Friday as the government achieved its ambitious target to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 71st birthday.
The government had fixed a target of 2.5 crore vaccinations for the day and exceeded the mark by 10,390.
China had inoculated 2.47 crore in a day in June which was the world until Friday. India’s previous record was 1.3 crore doses in a day on 27 August.
At 11:58 pm, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted to confirm what he called the "historic" figure.
Earlier, the Prime Minister took to Twitter to declare that "every Indian would be proud of today's record vaccination numbers" and thank healthcare and frontline workers who had worked hard to make the vaccination drive a success.
The World Health Organization's South-East Asia office also tweeted a congratulatory message .
"Congratulations India for yet another milestone!" the global health body's regional arm said, tagging Mr Mandaviya and news agency ANI in its tweet.
The one crore-mark was crossed earlier in the afternoon, after which ministers and BJP leaders put out tweets urging more to get their shots.
"On PM @Narendra Modi Ji's birthday, till 1:30 pm, the country has crossed the mark of 1 crore vaccines, the fastest so far, and we are continuously moving forward. I believe that today we will all make a new record of vaccination and give it as a gift to the prime minister," Mr Mandaviya tweeted.
India has so far given more than 787 million doses of three approved jabs.
More than half of India's eligible population – some 588 million people – have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, according to official data.
The one crore-mark was crossed by the afternoon, after which ministers and BJP leaders put out tweets urging more people to get their shots.
The government's tracker showed around 42,000 vaccinations in a minute, said a senior health officer.
Since 16 January, India has administered more than 78.7 crore doses.
About 58.8 crore people have received the first dose and another 19.5 crore have received both doses so far.
India gave 60 lakh jabs on an average every day in August, compared to 43 lakh daily jabs in July, according to official data. But September has seen a rise with more than 74 lakh doses administered daily as vaccine production has been stepped up in the country.
Also read: Britain giving 3rd booster shot of Covid vaccine to all above 50 years, ignores WHO advice
