Uttar Pradesh urban immunisation rate increases by 22.6%

The Uttar Pradesh government has made significant progress in improving immunisation rates in urban areas. There has been a rise of 22.6% in immunisation coverage over the past two years. The vaccination rate has jumped from 72.4% to 95% since the government implemented a seven-day-a-week immunisation service at health centres in January 2023. This initiative aims to ensure that every child is protected against 12 serious diseases. Parth Sarthi Sen Sharma, the Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education, stated that this effort removes barriers to accessing vaccinations, particularly for underserved communities. Dr. Ajay Gupta, the state's Immunisation Officer, reported that about 1.8 million children in urban areas received vaccinations between January 2023 and February 2025. He noted that earlier surveys showed urban immunisation rates were lagging behind rural areas. To address this, special campaigns were introduced, providing daily vaccination services at urban health centres. This approach has especially helped working families and daily wage earners who found it difficult to take time off for vaccinations. Gorakhpur has achieved the highest immunisation coverage among urban districts. Dr. Geetanjali Singh, a Medical Officer in Lucknow, shared that daily vaccination services have improved accessibility. Previously, vaccination sessions were limited to certain days and only held once a month, leading to long wait times. Now, parents can get their children vaccinated every day, with Sunday sessions proving helpful for those who work. The immunisation programme protects children against various diseases, including tuberculosis, polio, and measles. There has also been an increase in the number of people choosing government health centres for vaccinations over private hospitals.