UP and Punjab have expanded vaccination pace considerably during the election period.
With the election season nearing completion, there is one clear indirect ripple effect of the poll cycle across the five states -- their Covid-19 vaccination rate has risen in record time.
As per the latest review undertaken by the Election Commission of India on February 26 with the Union Health ministry, Goa, UP and Uttarakhand have achieved 100% first dose coverage while Punjab and Manipur are at 95% and 61% respectively.
At the first few such assessments, like the one taken around January 15 after polls had been announced to these states, the data was not as encouraging.
While Goa and Uttarakhand were managing their vaccination strategy very effectively with a 99% and 98% first dose coverage as on January 15, the ECI was upset with Punjab and Manipur managing a first dose coverage of no more than 78.3% and 57.4% respectively. Both states were sternly asked to raise the first dose coverage at the earliest.
UP, at 91.9% first dose coverage, was also asked to expand the coverage further. The EC's emphasis was on ensuring first dose coverage to all voters so that infections were kept at bay. Also, the EC having tied campaign relaxations to vaccination rate and Covid-19 hospitalisation rate this time, there was constant pressure on the poll-going states to work on this front.
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Regarding second dose coverage, as on January 15, save Goa at 93%, there was much work to be done across the other poll-going states. Uttarakhand was better off at 85% second dose vaccine coverage. However, UP was at 56.4%, Punjab and Manipur lagged heavily at 46% and 43% respectively.
As the polls wind up, the figures look decidedly better. The second dose coverage is at 100% and 95% in Goa and Uttarakhand respectively. In UP, it is at 79% -- up from the 56% range of January -- while Punjab has moved up from 46% to 70% late last week.
UP and Punjab have expanded vaccination pace considerably during the election period. Manipur is just about inching up - from 43% to 48% second dose coverage. The ECI has been working with religious leaders in Manipur to cut vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination coverage.
The All India first dose coverage was at 97% and 81% for the second dose coverage, when the EC held its review last Saturday. The poll panel had requested the health ministry to ensure steady vaccine supply to the poll going states given the poll schedule amid the pandemic.
