Lucknow: A better turnout is expected by state health officials at the fourth leg of first phase vaccination drive in Uttar Pradesh. According to UP health department officials, about 45% of the total 2.45 lakh health workers and corona warriors got the jab shot by 2 PM on Thursday.

As per health department records,  the state has so far vaccinated 4,63,793 health workers-about 69% coverage-of the total 6.71 lakh health workers targeted till January 29. As per state family welfare directorate report, around 206 incidents of adverse effects have been reported. However, no hospitalisation was required in any of the case.

The state has listed 9.06 lakh health workers, including 2.34 lakh from the private sector for inoculation in the first phase. “UP ranks number one in comparision with other states in terms of people vaccinated. Over 2.45 lakh health and front line workers will be vaccinated within two days,” said Additional chief secretary health and family welfare Amit Mohan Prasad.

Nationally 41,38,918 health workers have been given jab shots to get immunised against the pandemic virus while UP is followed by Maharasthra (3,18,744) and Karnataka (3,16,368) health workers have taken vaccination shot so far. About the session on Thursday, Prasad said:”As many as 1,600 sites will undertake the activity while on Friday, 750 sites will organise the vaccination drive.”

India kicked off the worlds largest Covid-19 inoculation drive on January 16 with thousands of doctors and health workers taking the jab shot.With shots of the Covidshield and Covaxin vaccine administered at medical centres across country, citizens heaved a collective sigh of relief in a hope that it can finally be the beginning of the end of the Covid-19 trauma.