India announced on Thursday that it had given the billionth dose of a coronavirus vaccine, six months after a massive rise in the number of infections raised fears of a collapse of the health system.

The Indian government said that about three-quarters of the citizens of this country of 1.3 billion people received at least one dose, and about thirty percent is fully vaccinated. 

India witnessed a great peak of the pandmic in April and May, during which more than 400,000 infections and 4,000 deaths were recorded daily, while hospitals faced a situation that was beyond their capacity and incinerators were filled with bodies.

But since then, the number of infections has sharply decreased to less than 15,000 daily, and most activities have returned to normal.

India is the second country to give one billion doses after China. The number of people who received a dose of the vaccine has reached more than 2.3 billion, according to the Chinese government.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked medical workers while special advertisements were placed at train stations and airports and buildings were lit in the colors of the Indian flag to celebrate the achievement.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandavia will present a new song by singer Kailash Kher and an audiovisual show at the Red Fort, the historic site in New Delhi.

"Congratulations to India! This is the result of the able leadership of visionary Prime Minister Modi," the health minister wrote on Twitter.