The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has surpassed 50 crore with more than 43.29 lakh doses given on Friday, the Union health ministry said.

Elaborating on the increasing pace of vaccination, he said the country took 85 days to touch the figure of 10 crore. It then took 45 days to cross the 20-crore mark and 29 more days to reach 30 crore. India took another 24 days to reach 40 crore and 20 more days to cross 50 crore vaccinations.

India had launched the vaccination drive against Covid-19 on January 16 and it picked up momentum after the new phase of universal free vaccination began on June 21.

Currently, Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V vaccine doses are being administered in India. Covishield is being manufactured by Serum Institute of India, Covaxin being developed by Bharat Biotech and Sputnik V vaccine is a Russian vaccine being marketed by Dr Reddy's Laboratories in India.

The Health Ministry today informed that over 2.30 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states, Union Territories and private hospitals.