New Delhi: Over 2 crore teenagers in the age group of 15-18 years have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week of the inoculation drive being launched for children, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday. With the administration of more than 90 lakh (90,59,360) vaccine doses in the past 24 hours, the cumulative number in the country has exceeded 150.61 crores (150,61,92,903), according to provisional reports updated till 7 am.

“Great Going, my Young Friends. Over 2 crore youngsters between the 15-18 age group have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in less than a week of vaccination drive for children,” Mr Mandaviya said. According to health ministry officials, over 91 per cent of the adult population of the country has received at least one dose of the vaccine while more than 66 per cent have been vaccinated with both doses.

Data from the Co-WIN dashboard at 1.50 pm showed that between January 1st and 7th, as many as 20,226,790 people between 15 and 17 years of age have been inoculated with the vaccine. The remarks from Mandaviya came a day after the country’s vaccination drive was appreciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for administering more than 1.5 billion (150 crores) vaccine doses.