Highlights
- India administered 100 million doses in 85 days, whereas the US took 89 days and China 103 days
- The US and the UK have vaccinated 34 per cent and 47 per cent of their respective populations
- In India, only 6.5 per cent of people have received their first dose so far
India has become the fastest country to deliver 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine to its residents, the Indian government said on Sunday.
The Indian Health Ministry said this 'landmark milestone' was achieved in 85 days, whereas the US took 89 days and China 103 days.
"A broader comparison with other countries on their achievements on the 85th Day reaffirms the fact that India has the highest rate of vaccination per day," the health ministry said.
"(The) US administered 92.09 million doses in 85 days, and China’s vaccination coverage was 61.42 million in 85 days," the ministry added.
The Indian government said the UK administered 21 million doses in the same period.
But Oxford University data-tracking project Our World in Data shows India is much behind the US and the UK when it comes to the percent of the population that received their first dose.
However, only 6.5 per cent of people in India have received their first dose until Friday, 9 April, whilst the US and the UK have vaccinated 34 per cent and 47 per cent of their respective population.
India started its vaccination drive on 16 January with healthcare and frontline workers.
On 1 March, the government included people over 60 years and those aged between 45 and 59 years with illnesses in the vaccination drive.
Now the scope has been expanded to those over 45 years.
But this has not prevented a record daily surge in the new coronavirus cases.
On Sunday, India reported over 150,000 new cases and more than 800 new deaths.
Several states have reported vaccine shortages to the Indian Health Ministry in the past few days.
