Slow and steady: India touches 2 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses milestone

Experts feel heterologous boosting and focus on drugs is the way forward

It took India 548 days to administer 2 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses to its population of 1.39 billion. On Sunday, it touched the 2-billion milestone - the only country in the world to do so.

Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted that "17th July 2022, a day to remember forever" 

The first 500 million doses were administered in 202 days after the world’s second most populous country started its vaccination drive on January 16, 2021. The second and third 500-million doses were achieved in quick succession of 76 and 79 days, respectively, as India battled through second