Bengaluru: India has become the first country in the world to vaccinate 10 crore people. 

The feat was achieved in 85 days.

“India has scaled another peak in its effort to contain the COVID-19 virus with the administration of more than 100 million (10 cr) vaccines to its citizens,” a health ministry statement said.

Noting that India is the fastest nation to administer 100 million doses, the ministry said, "The achievement is also a testimony of the 'whole of society' approach where individuals turned a deaf ear to rumours and propaganda of vested interests, shunned their vaccine hesitancy and strengthened the hand of the administration in curbing COVID-19."

The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, it said.

"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 US administered 92.09 million doses in 85 days and China's vaccination coverage was 61.42 million in 85 days. The UK administered 21.32 million doses in 85 days," the ministry underlined. 
 
India began the vaccination drive in the month of January. 

The ministry noted further. 

“The 10.12 crore figure achieved across 15,17,260 sessions includes 90,03,060 HCWs who have taken the first dose and 55,06,717 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 99,39,321 FLWs who have received the first dose and 47,28,966 FLWs who have taken the second dose”.