India passes key vaccination milestone after relaxations

India administered 1.4 million vaccine doses in the past 24 hours, health ministry data showed, the highest in a day since the campaign began in mid-January as the government moves to address initial hiccups.

The country still has to nearly double its current rate of vaccination to meet its target of covering 300 million people by August.

The two vaccines in use in India need to be administered in two doses, four to six weeks apart.

India has so far given 18 million doses to about 15 million people.

The vaccination pace increased this week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off an expansion of the drive to include the elderly and those aged 45 to 59 suffering from medical conditions.

The government has also roped in many private hospitals, allowing them to run vaccinations throughout the day and assuring there is no shortage of shots in the world’s biggest vaccine-making country.

On Monday, Modi opted for Bharat Biotech’s governmentbacked vaccine Covaxin.

On Thursday, Zimbabwe approved the use of Covaxin, becoming the first African country to sanction the jab, the Indian embassy in Harare announced.