As India administered one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses on Thursday, world leaders lauded the Union government’s efforts in achieving the historic milestone.
“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 and thanked 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.
Naftali Bennett, PM of Israel also congratulated PM Modi 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.
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.”
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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.”
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.
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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the milestone “triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians.”
He also lauded doctors, nurses and all those who worked to achieve this feat.
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 also congratulated India.
In a tweet he said, “Another vax milestone – Congratulations #India on administering 1 billion vaccine dosesClapping hands sign. I received both my vaccine doses as part of India’s #vaccination program – thanks to the Flag of India Govt. #100CroreVaccination.”
