Fall in number of those taking first dose

India, despite its high net numbers, has for over a month been lagging in reaching the unvaccinated

The number of Indians who have got two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine exceeds those who have got only one dose, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday, hailing it as a “significant achievement”. However, a look at vaccination data shows that this is because of a sharp fall in number of those taking their first dose, and India, despite its high net numbers, has for more than a month been lagging in reaching the unvaccinated.

India has administered over 113.68 crore (1,13,68,79,685) doses as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Of these, 75.5 crore were administered as “first dose” and 38.1 crore as “second dose”, which is why the number of fully vaccinated individuals (38,11,55,604) exceeds those who have been administered only a single dose or 37.4 crore (obtained by subtracting 38.1 crore from 75.5 crore).

However, the official vaccination data show that since the week October 9-15, the number of second doses has been exceeding the first dose. In that week, nearly 1.6 crore first and second doses each were administered.