In a bid to expedite the COVID-19 immunity drive in Lucknow, the health administration on Monday launched a special door-to-door vaccination campaign called 'Har Ghar Dastak'. Under the ambit of this programme, health teams will now visit the houses of those people who still haven't received the second jab of the anti-coronavirus shot. Official data suggests that there are about 6 lakh such beneficiaries in the state capital. Reportedly, about 1.45 lakh of these were administered the doses on Day 1 of the door-step campaign.

Dr. MK Singh, Incharge Vaccination, Lucknow has stated that the health administration will run a special door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination drive until June 24 to ensure 100% second dose coverage among adults in the city. As yet, about 95% of eligible beneficiaries (aged 18 and above) have already been administered the second dose.

Notably, the drive is focused at rural pockets of Lucknow which do not have sufficient health or vaccination centres. As such, the vaccine vials are being transported in customised carriers to make sure that the cold-chain corridor doesn't break, maintaining the efficacy of the shots.

In additon to that, the health administration has deployed teams with two ANMs (Auxillary Nurse Midwife) to visit people in their respective work areas and collate data of their vaccination status. Those that still have their second doses due are being collected in small groups for inoculation.

'Har-Ghar Dastak' is also open to those in the 12-17 age category and even 60+ age group. Meanwhile, those in the 18-60 age category can get their precautionary dose at private vaccination centres, Dr. MK Singh said.

With these targetted efforts to boost the inoculation drive, Uttar Pradesh is inching closer to the 33-crore COVID vaccination mark. As per CoWin portal, a total of 32,98,10,524 jabs have been administered in the state. This includes, 17,45,97,064 first doses, 15,19,97,357 second doses and 32,16,103 precaution doses of the vaccine.