COVID-19 vaccination in India
India began administration of COVID-19 vaccines on 16 January 2021. As of 4 March 2023, India has administered over 2.2 billion doses overall, including first, second and precautionary (booster) doses of the currently approved vaccines.[2][3] In India, 95% of the eligible population (12+) has received at least one shot, and 88% of the eligible population (12+) is fully vaccinated.[4][5]
Date
16 January 2021 – present
(3 years, 96 days ago)
Immunisation of Indians against COVID-19
₹35,000 crore (US$4.4 billion)[1]
- 1,025,789,302 people with one dose administered of Covaxin or Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine or Sputnik V
- 952,033,158 people have been fully vaccinated with both doses of Covaxin or Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine or Sputnik V or Corbevax
- 228,593,024 people have been administered Precautionary/Booster doses of Covaxin or Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine or Sputnik V or Corbevax
- 74% of the Indian population has received one dose.
- 69% of the Indian population has received both doses
India initially approved the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine (manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India under the trade name Covishield) and Covaxin (a vaccine developed locally by Bharat Biotech). They have since been joined by the Sputnik V (manufactured under license by Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, with additional production from Serum Institute of India being started in September[6][7]), Moderna vaccines, Johnson & Johnson vaccine and ZyCoV-D (a vaccine locally developed by Zydus Cadila)[a][b] and other vaccine candidates undergoing local clinical trials.
According to a June 2022 study published in The Lancet, COVID-19 vaccination in India prevented an additional 4.2 million deaths from December 8, 2020, to December 8, 2021.[8][9]
Vaccine acceptance in India
Over 80% of the population of India have a positive response for getting anti covid shots. India has one of the lowest vaccine hesitancy in the world.[196]
There was vaccine hesitancy in the initial months of 2021, especially in rural India and among poor and tribal populations. Constant government and public awareness drastically reduced vaccine hesitancy. Since May 2021, more than half of daily doses administered in India have been from rural parts.[197] Vaccine centers in India have witnessed large number of people willing to get covid vaccine resulting in overcrowding and mismanagement. Many centers across India in months of April & May reported severe shortage of covid vaccines due to large crowds turning up for vaccination. In cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru many people even after waiting for hours did not receive their covid vaccine due to shortage.[198] Since July, vaccine supply has drastically increased thus India is vaccinating at a very fast pace.[199]
One study published on vaccine acceptance shows that 79.5% of people from Delhi want to take a COVID-19 vaccine.[200] In another study which was published from West Bengal, a state in Eastern India, has shown that 77.27% of people want to take the COVID-19 vaccine.[201] According to the finding from these two studies, it can be expected that over 75% of people want to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Uttar Pradesh achieved 100% first dose saturation in COVID-19 vaccination, with over 26 crore doses administered, highest in India. The entire eligible population received the first dose by Monday evening. Nearly 70% of the adult population was fully vaccinated. Health teams praised for administering over 7 crore doses in January.[202]
