THE Government of India, on Thursday, achieved the milestone of administering one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The world’s largest vaccination drive has been carried out by India and has achieved this milestone with support from country’s scientific community and health professionals, a release from the Indian Embassy in Georgetown said.

In a historic achievement, the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has surpassed the one billion milestone.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi congratulated his countrymen and expressed gratitude to the country’s scientific community, health professionals and frontline workers for working towards achieving this stupendous feat.

The release noted that India has achieved the mark of one billion vaccine doses in less than 40 weeks and is the only country that has developed multiple COVID-19 vaccines across multiple platforms.  Nearly all of the one billion doses administered have been Made-in-India.

By the end of 2021, India would be producing more COVID-19 vaccines, monthly.  This would translate to a larger potential to share vaccines with the world, contributing towards realisation of the Prime Minister’s vision of “One Earth, One Health,” the Indian Embassy in Georgetown said.

“This achievement makes it all the more important for India when the country is celebrating its 75th Independence anniversary’ India@75’ from March 2021 to August 2023 as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. With low daily infection rates and increasing vaccinations, there is an expectation that travel to and from India will be restored to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.  In this context, India has commenced issuing e-tourist visas to tourists, including free visas to applicants.  India is working closely with the international community to enhance bilateral relations, business linkages, cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges,” the release concluded.