Anti-Covid vaccination: Uttar Pradesh pips Maharashtra to become state with maximum jabs

LUCKNOW: With over 7 lakh jabs on Thursday, Uttar Pradesh pipped Maharashtra to lead the Indian states in terms of the number of anti-Covid vaccinations.
According to CoWin Portal the total number of doses extended in UP till 9pm on Thursday was 3.6 crore while Maharashtra was at 3.57 crore.
The state now accounts for about 10% of the total doses given the country. Data indicate that against its primary target of vaccinating 13.6 crore people, UP has been able to provide at least one dose to 22.4% of its population.
On Thursday, UP also became the first state to have given the first dose of the vaccine to over 3 crore people.
As per the Cowin portal, 3,04,96,595 persons have taken at least one dose while 55.27 lakh are fully vaccinated in state. The nearest contender is Maharashtra where 2.82 crore have taken at least the first dose. The others to follow are Rajasthan (2.15 crore), Gujarat (2.11 crore) and Karnataka (2.04 crore).
Among districts, Lucknow (15.64 lakh), Gautam Budh Nagr (13.04 lakh), Ghaziabad (11.29 lakh), Meerut (10.50 lakh) and Gorakhpur (9.93 lakh) are among the top performers while Kasganj (1.78 lakh), Lalitpur (1.86 lakh), Kaushambi (1.98 lakh) and Auraiya (2 lakh) are among the worst performing.
Health officials attributed the improvement in vaccination scenario to the launch of the cluster model which has addressed the key bottlenecks particularly connectivity and digital divide and created an ease of vaccination. The steps taken, such as micro-planning, have accelerated UP’s vaccination drive.
In fact, since the launch of the cluster model, vaccination in the rural areas has picked up very well. On a daily basis, about 40% of the vaccinations are taking place in villages.
Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad said that there was visible enthusiasm for the vaccine now. He also said that the state had ample stock and all eligible persons must get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible.
ACS, information, Navneet Sehgal said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed happiness over the pace of the vaccination programme and directed district officials to ensure that every eligible person was facilitated for the vaccination. He said that the CM had congratulated the team behind the drive.