Visakhapatnam led in vaccination numbers among all AP districts on Friday

Once again, targeting 1 lakh vaccinations in a day, Visakhapatnam has almost reached this target recording impressive vaccination numbers and standing on top among all Andhra Pradesh districts. This target was set by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), and the Medical and Health Department in Vizag, for 6 August 2021. In pursuit of this, they managed to inoculate 99,937 people at 166 vaccination centres (govt: 149, Private: 17). On Friday, the city conducted a mega vaccination drive for people above 45 years of age, mothers of 0-5 year old children, pregnant women and teachers. The drive was conducted at 72 urban primary health centers and 400 secretariats in the city. 

All the GVMC Zonal Commissioners, Assistant Medical Officers of Health (AMOH), Sanitary Inspectors, Sanitary Supervisors, Ward Special Officers and volunteers were told to mobilise the public and send them to the vaccination drive which started from 6 am on Friday and continued till evening. A similar mega vaccination drive was conducted two months ago where 1,04,698 individuals were vaccinated in a day. On that day, Andhra Pradesh reached the milestone of 2 crore vaccinations, listed as one among 10 states in India to reach that number. Since then, Visakhapatnam has been making gradual progress in vaccination numbers, with women ahead of men in getting vaccinated. 

As of date, a total of 22,69,850 including 16,99,856 people with the first dose and 5,69,994 people with the second dose have been vaccinated in the city. Among the total, 11,03,553 are male and 11,66,002 female. The total vaccination toll in Andhra Pradesh is at 2,33,84,800, with 1,73,16,003 only getting the first dose and 60,68,797 getting both doses. Among the total, 1,06,45,128 are male and 1,27,35,899 are female. 

With less than two weeks left for schools to reopen in AP, teachers are being vaccinated with first and second doses on a priority basis. According to health officials, vaccination drives have been kept on priority for women and teachers in view of the third wave threat. Expecting that children are likely to be affected more in the third wave, mothers of children below 5 years of age are to be vaccinated at the earliest so as to avoid any spread of virus between the families.