New Delhi: A record 8 million-plus doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in India in a single day on Monday.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had tweeted in the afternoon that a “record-breaking 47 lakh vaccine doses administered so far.”
By 8 pm, that number had swelled to over 80 lakh. As per CoWin website, a total of 80,95,314 vaccine shots were administered till 8 pm.
The previous daily record was 42,65,157 doses on April 2.
It’s significant because the feat was achieved on a day when the Central government started free vaccination for all citizens above the age of 18 years.
As announced by Prime Minister Nardendra Modi earlier this month, the Union government will procure 75% of total available vaccine doses from manufacturers and distribute it to state governments free of cost.
The Prime Minister said the record number of vaccines was ‘gladdening’ and congratulated all those who got vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus.
“Today’s record-breaking vaccination numbers are gladdening. The vaccine remains our strongest weapon to fight COVID-19. Congratulations to those who got vaccinated and kudos to all the front-line warriors working hard to ensure so many citizens got the vaccine. Well done India!” PM Modi tweeted.
Today’s record-breaking vaccination numbers are gladdening. The vaccine remains our strongest weapon to fight COVID-19. Congratulations to those who got vaccinated and kudos to all the front-line warriors working hard to ensure so many citizens got the vaccine.
Well done India!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2021
