COVID-19 Vaccination: India breaches five crore-mark

New Delhi: India on Wednesday crossed five crore-mark in cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country so far.

According to an official data, till 0700 hrs, a total of 5,08,41,286 vaccine doses have been administered through 8,23,046 sessions.

The vaccination drive in the country began in the month of January in phases with healthcare and frontline workers being vaccinated first. In the ongoing second phase, the drive was extended for people above 60 years of age and those above 45 and with comorbidities.

On Tuesday, the Union Government permitted all people above 45 years to get vaccinated as the country is witnessing significant spike in daily Covid-19 cases.

As per the data, so far, 79,17,521 healthcare workers have received first dose while 50,20,695 50,20,695 healthcare workers second dose.

In frontline workers, 83,62,065 have received first dose and 30,88,639 second dose.

A total of 2,17,50,472 people of age above 60 years have been vaccinated while 47,01,894 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities have been administered the first dose.

Eight states--Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan--account for 60 per cent of the cumulative vaccine doses given so far.

On Tuesday, the 67th day of vaccination, a total of 23,46,692 people were inoculated.

Meanwhile, 47,262 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in the last 24 hours. Five states--Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat--account for 77.44 per cent of the new cases.

Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 28,699, followed by Punjab with 2,254 while Karnataka reported 2,010 new cases.

A total of 275 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties of 132, followed by Punjab with 53 and Chhattisgarh with 20. (UNI)