A health worker inoculates a woman with a dose of the Covishield at a civil hospital in Amritsar on Friday. AFP

Gulf Today Report

India gave out 25 million doses during a special COVID-19 vaccination drive organised on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

The campaign took place on Friday as Modi turned 71. The Health Ministry said on Saturday the special drive had raised India's overall vaccinations to more than 790 million.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called the feat " a golden chapter … written in the history of the country and the world.”

Modi said on Saturday that birthdays will come and go, but I will never forget my 71st birthday because of the nearly 2.5 crore (25m) vaccine jabs, which the country administered, marking a new feat against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking during a virtual interaction with health workers, ruling politicians, administrative officials and a cross section of people from Goa, Modi also said that by clocking the record vaccinations in a single day, India has shown the world the depths of its ability, adding that Indians should boast about the achievement with pride. "But due to all your efforts, yesterday was a special day for me. Birthdays will come and go, but I will never forget yesterday. I cannot thank you all enough," Modi said.

People cut a 71-kilogramme cake to celebrate  Narendra Modi's 71st birthday at an event in Ahmedabad. Reuters

"Many birthdays have come and gone. But I have kept away from these things (birthday celebrations). But in all my years, yesterday was a very emotional day for me," the prime minister added.

India, a country of nearly 1.4 billion people, has given at least one dose to more than 62% of eligible adults and two doses to about 21%. Health ministry officials say they plan to administer over a billion shots by mid-October.