India's vaccination progamme is a symbol of our self-reliance, PM Modi said on Mann Ki Baat.
India is vaccinating citizens faster than anywhere in the world amid the global Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said. He also highlighted the fact that the country was able to reach out to others with help and this was happening because it was self-reliant.
He said just as India's war against coronavirus had set an example for the world, the country's vaccination programme, too, was becoming an example.
"India is conducting the biggest vaccination drive in the world. Do you know what is an even better matter of pride? We are not only running the world's biggest vaccination drive but we are also the fastest in vaccinating our citizens," Prime Minister Modi said in his 73rd episode of ''Mann Ki Baat''.
"In merely 15 days, India has vaccinated more than 30 lakh Covid-19 warriors, while a rich country like the US has completed the same target in 18 days and the UK in 36 days," he said.
The number of healthcare workers vaccinated has crossed the 37 lakh mark on the 15th day of the countrywide Covid-19 inoculation programme, according to Union Health Ministry data.
Highlighting that India is helping the world during the COVID-19 crisis, he said: "These days, I receive messages for India from Presidents and Prime Ministers of different countries of the world. You must also have seen recently how the President of Brazil, in a tweet, thanked India. Every Indian was proud of it." He said India was able to help others because India today is self-reliant in the field of medicines and vaccines. "The more capable India is, the more it will serve humanity, the more the world will benefit."
Hailing the country's citizens for coming together at the time of a crisis like the pandemic, he said, "The Made in India vaccines are not only a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat but is also that of self-pride."
PM Modi's talk came a day after the first anniversary of the country recording its first Covid-19 case in Kerala on January 30, 2020. Since then, the county has recorded 1,07,46,183 cases and 1,54,274 deaths. Months of a national lockdown later, the country has seen daily cases falling considerably. It has also launched a massive national coronavirus inoculation drive earlier this month, deploying two products, Covaxin and Covishield, both manufactured in India.
India is also supplying these vaccines to neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.