India achieved the one billion jabs milestone todayNew Delhi: It took India a little over nine months to achieve the one billion vaccination milestone, but the next billion doses will only take about three to four months – about one-third the time — according to Dr NK Arora, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration.Speaking to NDTV on the day India achieved the one billion jabs milestone, Dr Arora said, “How do I reach 100% of the population by the end of the year? At least one dose we should be able to give most of the adults by the end of the year and within the next 4-6 weeks second doses will also be given.””I had told you in June-July, you will give 50 crore doses which was somewhere in April or May. We finished 50 crores on 7th August. In October, we had expected 100 crores because that was the supply side we knew about it. Then in the coming three months, we have the arrangement for about 80-90 crore doses. In fact by January we will have nearly 100 crore doses. We should be able to do it (another 100 crore) within next three to four months,” Dr Arora said.He said 77-80 per cent people in the country have already received the first dose of the vaccine. “We are left with 20% which is about 18-20 crore people who will have to be given additional one dose. We think by the end of this year everybody will get at least one dose and there will be few who will be left for second dose,” he added.
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