India has overtaken the US in terms of the number of people who have received at least a single dose of the vaccine, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday even as it noted that almost 68 per cent decline has been noted in Covid-19 cases since the highest reported peak of cases on May 7.
There has been a decrease in active cases by more than 21 lakh since the peak of active cases on May 10, it said, adding that 377 districts are reporting less than 5 per cent case positivity rate.
"We have to buy time to ensure high coverage of vaccination against Covid-19 is achieved," it said.
About 43 percent of the 60 years plus population has been vaccinated, while 37 per cent people above 45 years have been inoculated so far, the Government said.
The cumulative number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 22.75 Crore (22,75,67,873) as per the 7 pm provisional report on Friday.
According to the data, around 16,23,602 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose and 31,217 beneficiaries of the same age group received their second dose of Covid vaccine. Cumulatively, 2,58,45,901 persons across 37 States/UTs have received their first dose and a total 1,18,299 have received their second dose since the start of Phase-3 of the vaccination drive.
Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have administered more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years for the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, said the Ministry.