More than half of India's adult population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 16 per cent have got both, the Union government said on 2nd September as the cumulative number of doses administered in the country crossed 66 crores.

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About ramping up of daily vaccinations, the Union Health Secretary said 18.38 crore doses were given in August during which 59.29 lakh doses were administered daily. The average daily vaccination in the last seven days of August has been 80.27 lakh. "That's a huge achievement and would not have been possible without very effective and optimal participation of all healthcare workers, state governments and Union Territory administrations," he said. On both August 27 and 31 more than one crore vaccinations took place.

According to data shared at the press conference, the number of vaccine doses administered daily has increased from 19.69 lakh in May to 39.89 lakh in June and further to 43.41 lakh in July. He said that 99 per cent of the healthcare workers have received the first dose of the vaccine while 84 per cent of the eligible healthcare workers have taken the second dose. He said 100 per cent of the frontline workers have been administered the first dose while 80 per cent of them have been given the second dose.

"Besides, 16 per cent of India's adult population have been fully vaccinated which means they have received both the doses of COVID-19 vaccine while 54 per cent have been administered at least one dose," the Union health secretary said. NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul urged people who have not got vaccinated yet to take the jabs.

The message of vaccination must be taken to the heartland of India, he said, adding, "No one should be left behind. Vaccine availability is increasing and we must use this opportunity to push back this pandemic." Paul further underlined that vaccination programmes among pregnant women must be accelerated while stating it is being seen that many people have not got vaccinated.

Vaccination is important for pregnant women and their baby otherwise, the risk of complications rises. The more pregnant women can get vaccinated the better, he stressed. Paul also emphasised the need for taking the second dose. "For complete protection, the second dose is important. The level of protection one gets after the second dose is much higher than the one after the first. The complete guarantee that one gets is after the second dose.

"The government is making its efforts but if your second dose is due please get it because then only you are more protected and it becomes difficult for the virus to transmit through you," he added.