Friday, 22 October 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Modi calls 100 cr jabs triumph of collective spirit of 130 crore Indians; world leaders hail India’s success
India on Thursday crossed the historic 100-crore Covid-19 vaccination mark, achieving rare distinction in the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in expressing his gratitude to doctors, nurses, and all others who worked for crossing the milestone.
Leaders from across the world and various agencies too congratulated the Government for the watershed moment.
As per Union Health Ministry data, India took 85 days to touch the 10-crore vaccination mark, 45 more days to cross the 20-crore mark and 29 more days to reach the 30-crore mark. The country took 24 days to reach the 40-crore mark from 30-crore doses and then 20 more days to surpass the 50-crore vaccination mark on August 6. It then took 76 days to go past the 100-crore mark.
The top five States which have administered the highest number of doses are Uttar Pradesh followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, said the Ministry.
Modi said in a tweet, “India scripts history. We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians. Congrats India on crossing 100 crore vaccinations. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all those who worked to achieve this feat.”
Modi called the achievement “the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians”.
“The vaccine has brought pride and protection in the lives of our citizens,” he noted.
The Prime Minister visited the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, where he interacted with healthcare workers and people receiving the vaccine.
In a tweet, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya too congratulated the country on achieving the feat, and said it was the result of the able leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
To mark the occasion, the Union Health Ministry held a series of events. It released a two-minute and four-second video with rap and visual representation of the country’s fight against Covid-19.
World leaders too lauded India’s achievement.
“We congratulate India for the extraordinary accomplishment of administering one billion doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. I applaud India’s successes in fighting Covid-19 at home and for its efforts to help end the pandemic in the Indo-Pacific region and well beyond,” said Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State.
Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took to Twitter to thank India for supporting the Maldives in its fight against Covid-19.
“Congratulations to PM @narendramodi and the Government of India for administering 1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, displaying the innovation and solidarity of the Indian people. Thank you also, India, for supporting Maldives’ Covid-19 recovery and vaccination efforts,” Solih said in a tweet.
Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett too congratulated his Indian counterpart on the historic feat.
“Congratulations to PM Modi on leading India’s successful #COVID19 vaccination campaign that has now administered more than 1 billion vaccines to the Indian people. These life-saving vaccines are helping us all defeat the global pandemic,” he said.
Similarly, Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering called it a huge accomplishment not just for India but for the world.
“In what is a huge accomplishment not just for your country but the world, India hit the one billion mark of Covid-19 vaccination doses. On behalf of the people of Bhutan, I congratulate India,” he tweeted.
Congratulations to PM Narendra Modi, the medical community and front liners of India for achieving this mammoth task, said Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa while French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, said, “Congratulations, India, on this historic milestone! This impressive achievement brings the world closer to overcoming the pandemic. I salute the efforts of doctors, nurses and all frontline workers.”
In a tweet, he said, “Congratulations to PM @narendramodi, the medical community & frontliners of #India for achieving this mammoth task. The way forward & adjusting to the new normal while staying safe is highly dependent on a successful vaccination drive. Congratulations on reaching this milestone.”
The United States called it a major milestone in the world’s efforts to combat the global pandemic.
“Congratulations to India on administering its 1 billionth dose of Covid-19 vaccine today,” said the US Embassy in a tweet.
India’s immunisation campaign has covered three-quarters of its 944 million adults with at least one dose but only 31 per cent with two. The Government has plans to vaccinate all adults by the end of this year.
Danish Ambassador to India Freddy Svane in a tweet said, “Bravo India – reaching 1 billion doses. That’s a remarkable and outstanding achievement in the fight against Covid.”
Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell tweeted, “Another vax milestone – Congratulations #India on administering 1 billion vaccine does. I received both my vaccine doses as part of India’s #vaccination program – thanks to the Flag of India Govt. #100CroreVaccination.”
Regional director of WHO South-East Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh said the extraordinary feat was not possible in a short span without a strong political leadership, inter-sectoral convergence, dedicated efforts of the entire health and frontline workforce and the people themselves.
Chairman and managing director of Bharat Biotech Dr Krishna Ella observed that reaching the one billion mark of vaccination in just nine months was a remarkable achievement for the nation.
