Just over four and a half months after the West's first COVID-19 vaccine dose was given to 90-year-old Margaret Keenan in Britain on Dec. 8, 2020, a remarkable milestone has been achieved – nearly 1 billion jabs, both first and second shots – have been administered globally, according to Agence France-Presse's (AFP) database, Daily Sabah reports.
The unprecedented inoculation drive is seen as the world's ticket out of coronavirus lockdowns, despite concerns about rare side effects, worries over supply and a glaring inequality between rich and poor.
More than half of all vaccinations are made by only three countries: the United States, China and India - 581.7 mln vaccines, or 58%.
