MEDICAL FRATERNITY DELIGHTED
A record was created on Friday when more than two crore Covid-19 vaccines were administered to mark the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (September 17).
The medical fraternity welcomed the effort and said that if the vaccination drive sustains this pace, India could be a fully-vaccinated nation in 50 days.
Two crores in a day is an excellent achievement by the government and if we continue at this pace we will be able to stop the third wave from coming. In our estimates, we were looking at one crore in a day and even that showed good results. We must continue with our pace of vaccination.
Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology:
Polio vaccine has proven India's capability to immunise on a massive scale. We have the capability to vaccinate two crore people in a day if we knit a partnership between public and private. This must be leveraged.
Dr K. Hari Prasad, president, Apollo Group of Hospitals:
This landmark number has been achieved by waving off pre-registration requirements and offering free vaccinations. Door-to-door vaccination is a safe solution and must be adopted to avoid superspreader events.
Dr Nikhil Mathur, chief of medical services,
Care Group of Hospitals:
Fast vaccination is required so that new variants do not crop up. If we can continue giving two crore vaccines a day, we will be able to complete adult vaccination in roughly 50 days. We must ensure that other health programme.
—Dr M.S.S. Mukherjee, senior interventional
cardiologist, Medicover Hospitals:
A major milestone has been achieved by the country. We must ensure that full vaccination of the population is carried out. Those who were vaccinated early are planning booster doses for better protection.
Dr Riyaz Khan, chief executive
officer Continental Hospital:
It is excellent work by the government, healthcare workers and cooperation of the people who have come forward to get vaccinated. Such voluntary efforts by people will help us achieve full vaccination by the year-end.
Dr Bhaskar Rao,