In an innovative technique, India has started transporting COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens using commercial drones to boost the vaccination process, according to BBC.

According to Dr. Samiran Panda, chief scientist and head of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, drones are being used to deliver vaccines in mountainous states in the country.

On Monday, the first drone delivery of vaccines was successful in the north-eastern state of Manipur, as 10 people were vaccinated on the island.

The drone carried ten doses to a primary health clinic in the Karang island in Loktak within 12 minutes. Usually, the length of the trip takes around four hours by boat and twelve hours by road if delivering to far mountainous villages. 

"If people get infected and contract the severe disease they don't have access to ventilators or intensive care or oxygen in these areas," said Dr. Panda, referring to the villages. 

The used drones can carry a load of 900 doses and fly at least 70 km.

According to official data, about 70% of India's population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to official data. The country has reported more than 33 million COVID-19 cases and more than 440,000 deaths.