Photos: India celebrates 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses milestone

A health worker inoculates a woman at a government hospital in New Delhi. India reached the one billion COVID-19 vaccinations milestone this morning. The government wants all of India's 944 million adults to get vaccinated this year.

A woman takes a selfie while being fed with sweets as India celebrates the milestone of administering one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses at an event organised in New Delhi.

According to the government, around three-quarters of adults in the country of 1.3 billion people have had one shot, and around 30 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a thumbs up to the healthcare workers at RML Hospital as India crosses one billion COVID-19 vaccinations in New Delhi. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "India scripted history" and expressed his gratitude to doctors, nurses, and those who worked to achieve the milestone. "India scripts history. We are witnessing the triumph of Indian science, enterprise and collective spirit of 130 crore Indians. Congrats, India, on crossing 100 crore vaccinations. Gratitude to our doctors, nurses and all those who worked to achieve this feat. #VaccineCentury," PM Modi tweeted.

Health workers hold flowers presented to them by Bharatiya Janata Party workers to thank them for 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine at a government hospital in New Delhi, India.

Volunteers decorate a vaccination centre to celebrate India administering its billionth COVID-19 vaccine at a health centre in New Delhi.

Nearly 90% of the vaccines administered in India have come from the Serum Institute of India (SII), which produces a licensed version of the AstraZeneca drug. SII has more than tripled its capacity since April and can now produce 220 million vaccine doses a month.

The Indian government was reportedly set to celebrate the milestone with Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanking health workers, special announcements at railway stations and airports and monuments being lit up in the national colours. Above, PM Narendra Modi visits Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital as India crossed the 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine dose milestone, in New Delhi.

SII has also slowly resumed exports for the first time since April, when the government stopped all overseas sales to meet domestic demand as infections rose dramatically.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which relies heavily on India for supplies to its global vaccine-sharing platform COVAX, congratulated the country for reaching the landmark. "India's progress must be viewed in the context of the country's commendable commitment and efforts to ensure that these life-saving vaccines are accessible globally," said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director WHO South-East Asia.

Beneficiaries wait in the observation room after receiving a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in New Delhi.

A healthcare worker gives a dose of the COVISHIELD vaccine against the coronavirus disease manufactured by Serum Institute of India, to a man as others decorate the vaccination centre to celebrate the milestone of administering one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses, in Ahmedabad.

India has so far reported 34.1 million COVID-19 cases and more than 452,000 deaths, most during a second wave of infections of the Delta variant that surged through the country between April and May.