The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Friday informed that more than 17 crore people including 60 per cent of the elderly population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country.

“As per our data in the world, the number of people who have received at least one dose of vaccine in India is 17.2 crore. We have overtaken the US in terms of the number of people in our country who have received the first dose of vaccine,” said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog.

He further informed that more than 60 per cent elderly population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the country. “COVAXIN and Zydus vaccines already being tested in children. We will need around 25 crore doses. We will have to take this into account when we strategize. Information and analysis being continually being examined,” he said.

India reported 1,32,364 new infections taking the country’s total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,85,74,350, according to the Health Ministry.

COVID recovery rate improves to 93.1%

The coronavirus recovery rate in the country has improved to 93.1 per cent as daily infections have declined by 68 per cent, the health ministry said today.

Briefing about the current COVID-19 situation in the country, Joint Health Secretary, Lav Agarwal said, “There has been a consistent increase in recovery rate, currently at 93.1 per cent.” He also informed that as many as 377 districts in the country are reporting less than 5 per cent case positivity at present.

“If we analyse data in comparison to May 7 highest reported peak, we are recording a 68 per cent decline in daily cases,” he said.

Agarwal further stated that 66 per cent of new cases are coming effectively from five States and the rest are coming from 31 States/UTs which indicates that they were able to control the virus locally. “There has been a continuous decrease in districts reporting more than 100 average daily new cases, while 257 districts reporting more than 100 daily cases.