COVID vaccination coverage in India hits 196.94 crore

On Saturday, India’s total COVID-19 vaccine coverage surpassed 196.94 crores (1,96,94,40,932), according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to preliminary reports, India reached the target via sessions till 7 a.m. on Saturday. COVID vaccination for children aged 12 to 14 years old began on March 16, 2022.

More than 3.62 crore (3,62,20,781) adolescents have received the first dose of the COVID vaccination, and 2,23,36,175 have received the second dose.

In the 15-18 year age group, 6,02,72,529 doses were provided as the first dosage and 4,82,78,560 doses as the second dose.

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According to the Ministry, 1,04,08,628 health care workers (HLWs) have gotten the first vaccination dosage, 1,00,60,891 have received the second vaccine dose, and 56,11,589 have received the precaution dose.

In addition, the first dosage was given to 1,84,22,906 frontline employees, the second dose to 1,76,19,383 personnel, and the precaution dose to 99,40,140 workers.

In the age range 18-44 years, a total of 55,80,69,125 vaccine doses were delivered as the first dose, 49,98,02,380 as the second dose, and 24,07,273 as precaution doses.

Similarly, people aged 45 to 59 years received 20,34,14,801 vaccine doses as the first dose, 19,30,99,268 as the second dose, and 22,93,280 as precaution doses, whereas people aged 60 and up received 12,72,28,781 vaccine doses as the first dose, 12,05,89,141 as the second dose, and 2,33,65,301 as precaution doses.

Covid cases

Meanwhile, in the previous 24 hours, India reported 15,940 new COVID cases and 20 fatalities.

With this, India’s active cases have increased to 91,779, with a daily positive rate of 4.39 percent.

Earlier this month, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya convened a video-conference meeting with Health Ministers and top officials from States and Union Territories (UTs) to examine the success of the HarGharDastak 2.0 vaccination campaign.

Mandaviya added that expanded and timely testing will enable early detection of COVID patients and assist to prevent the spread of the illness among the population, citing higher case positive in various districts and States and lower COVID-19 testing.

He had asked states and universities to maintain and expand monitoring while focusing on genome sequencing to find novel mutants/variants in the country.

He added that States/UTs must maintain and monitor the five-pronged strategy of Test, Track, Treat, Vaccination, and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behavior (CAB).