COVID-19: More than 37 lakh healthcare workers vaccinated across India, announces Ministry of Health

The Health Ministry said in a statement that India is the fastest country to reach one million, two million as well as the three million COVID-19 vaccination targets. The first phase of the world`s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHWF) on Saturday (January 30) announced that India has so far vaccinated more than 37 lakh healthcare workers against COVID-19.

As of Saturday, the cumulative number of healthcare workers that have been administered the coronavirus vaccine doses stands at 37,06,157, while 68,830 COVID-19 vaccination sessions have been held so far, said MoHWF.

The Health Ministry said in its statement that India is the fastest country to reach one million, two million as well as the three million COVID-19 vaccination targets. Notably, the first phase of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16. 

(Photo: Reuters)

The news of COVID-19 inoculation of over 37 lakh health workers comes on a day when India had reported its first case of the novel coronavirus, exactly a year ago. On January 30, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was registered in Kerala.

Earlier in the day, the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the status of coronavirus vaccination with Health Secretaries and National Health Mission Mission Directors (NHM MDs) of states and UTs, through video conferencing.

He directed all states and UTs to improve the percentage coverage of COVID-19 vaccinated beneficiaries and assured the states and UTs’ health representatives that COVID-19 vaccine is available in sufficient quantity and technical glitches on CoWIN have also been resolved. 

The Union Health Secretary also directed all states and UTs to issue provisional digital vaccination certificates after the first dose and final certificate after completing the second dose to the beneficiaries.

(Photo: Reuters)

The vaccination of the frontline workers will commence from the first week of February, for which, the states and UTs’ health authorities have been advised to undertake necessary planning for ensuring smooth implementation of the second phase of the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, India's total coronavirus active caseload dropped to less than 1.7 lakh on Saturday. The active caseload now consists of less than 1.6 per cent of India's total positive infections.

India registered 13,083 daily new cases and 137 deaths in the last 24 hours.

According to the Ministry of Health, nine states and UTs have a higher weekly positivity rate than the national average. Kerala records highest weekly positivity rate with 12.20%, followed by Chhattisgarh with 7.30 per cent.

India's recovery rate on Saturday reached nearly 97 per cent as more than 1.04 cr people have recovered so far. 14,808 patients recovered and got discharged in the last 24 hours.