Covid-19: ten million people vaccinated in one day in India

A queue to be vaccinated against Covid-19, in Bombay, August 17, 2021. AP - Rafiq Maqbool

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2 min

India administered more than ten million doses in one day on Friday August 27.

A record welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the WHO.

However, only 15% of Indians received two doses of the vaccine. 

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With our correspondent in Bangalore,

Côme Bastin

Ten million doses is a major achievement.

Congratulations to those who are getting vaccinated and to all the health workers,

”Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Friday evening.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and billionaire Bill Gates have also praised the country's efforts.

Less than one in seven Indians vaccinated

This is a

symbolic milestone for India,

which is struggling to vaccinate its 1.3 billion inhabitants.

The authorities have set a target of covering the entire adult population by December.

For this, it is imperative to step up the pace when less than one in seven people has been fully immunized.

150 million doses of Covishield produced per month

The previous record was 9 million doses.

Vaccine production in India soared in August.

The Serum Institute of India, the main manufacturer, now releases 150 million doses per month of Covishield, the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, from its factories.

Kerala, the main black spot

The number of new infections detected has stagnated for two months at around 40,000 per day.

The main epidemic focus is located in Kerala, a state which accounts for 2% of the population but more than half of the active cases.

However, nothing can rule out the prospect of a third wave in the country.

►Also listen: In Bangalore, the vaccine race facing the third wave

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  • India

  • Coronavirus

  • Vaccines

  • Health and medicine