Indian officials say jab drive hits new records

India's coronavirus infection rate has fallen 90% from its peak, a senior health official said Tuesday. Rajesh Bhushan, secretary at India's Health Ministry, added that a record number of more than eight and a half million vaccine doses had been administered on Monday.

He said around two thirds of them had been given in rural areas. The development came as India's central government took charge of the country's vaccination program and started offering jabs for free for everyone above the age of 18. India suffered a devastating second wave of infections earlier this year when daily new cases surged to a peak of more than 414,000.