New Delhi

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called the COVID-19 vaccination drive "the most successful in the world" and extended greetings to health workers, scientists, and the people of the country as India completed a year of the exercise. 

"Today the world's largest vaccination campaign completes one year. Started under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, with everyone's efforts, today, it is the most successful vaccination campaign in the world. I congratulate all the health workers, scientists and countrymen," Mandaviya tweeted.

India's cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 156.76 crore since it began on January 16 last year.

Starting initially by inoculating vaccines to healthcare workers, it was then expanded to frontline workers, followed by people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years with comorbidities. Later it was also expanded to all above 45 years of age and then those above 18 years of age.

The vaccination drive for those between the age group 15-18 was started on January 3, 2022, and for administering the precautionary doses to the healthcare workers, frontline workers, and individuals over 60 years of age then commenced on January 10 this year.

According to the Union Health Ministry, 1,56,76,15,454 vaccine doses have been administered to eligible beneficiaries, as per provisional reports till 7 am on Sunday. In the last 24 hours, more than 66 lakh vaccine doses have been administered.