85% eligible population has received the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine: Union Health Minister
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that 85 per cent of the country’s eligible population has received its first dose of COVID19 vaccine. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh has fully vaccinated its eligible population.
Beneficiaries showing COVID19 vaccination cards. Photo: @IndiainSenegal/twitter
Today, December 6, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “Another Day, Another Milestone. 85% of the eligible population inoculated with the first dose of #COVID19 vaccine.”
So far, more than 1.285 billion COVID19 doses have been administered in the country. Of these, 803 million are the first round of doses. Half of the country’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Himachal Pradesh has inoculated 100 per cent of its eligible population with both the doses of the Covid 19 vaccine. It is the first state in the country to do so.
Several other states, including Tamil Nadu, have stepped up COVID19 vaccination drives after the country detected 21 cases of Omicron, a new variant of concern. The country reported its first two cases from Karnataka. As of now, the Omicron variant has also been reported from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Delhi.
All states are boosting their vaccination campaign in their respective states as the Indian government has set a target of 100 per cent COVID19 vaccination by December 31.
Also Read: Explained: For how long do the vaccines offer protection against COVID19?
In a bid to ramp up the vaccination campaign, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to provide ration to beneficiaries only if they have been inoculated with both doses of the COVID 19 vaccine. Food rights experts believe this is denying the poor their rights. But, the order will be implemented in the new year.
Also Read: No vaccination, no rations: Madhya Pradesh ‘boosts’ vaccination campaign?
On October 27, the central government launched a month-long door-to-door vaccination campaign — ‘Har Ghar Dastak’ in order to ensure that people are fully vaccinated against coronavirus. “We have to ensure full vaccination for every district,” Mandaviya had said while he chaired a meeting with the state health ministers that day.
In a national review meeting held in New Delhi on October 27, Union Health Minister pointed out that about 103.4 million people in the country have not taken the second dose of the COVID19 vaccine in the prescribed interval.