New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh has administered the highest number of Covid-19 vaccines — 10 per cent of the countrywide figure — since the immunisation drive began in India over a month ago. But its vaccination rates, or the number of vaccines administered per million of population, is among the lowest.
At 20,185 vaccinations per million, national capital Delhi is among the top five in this category. Bihar, meanwhile, has recorded the lowest vaccinations per million — 4,814.
India rolled out its Covid immunisation drive on 16 January. While the drive is currently focused on healthcare and frontline workers, come 1 March, two other categories of participants will be eligible to get the shot — those aged over 60 years, and those over 45 with comorbidities.
The Indian vaccination drive involves two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin. Both require recipients to take two doses, to be administered four weeks apart.
A total of 1,26,71,163 — or nearly 1.3 crore Indians — have been vaccinated against Covid-19 so far.
A look at state-wise vaccination data throws up some interesting insights. Some of the states with the highest number of Covid-19 cases are also among those conducting the most number of vaccinations. At least two states with a relatively high case fatality ratio, meanwhile, have lower vaccination numbers.
Maharashtra currently tops the country in terms of Covid case tally. As of 25 February, the state recorded 21,29,821 cases. The top 10 states with high tallies include Kerala (10,48,687), Karnataka (9,49,636), Andhra Pradesh (8,89,585), Tamil Nadu (8,50,096), Delhi (6,38,593), Uttar Pradesh (6,03,232), West Bengal (5,74,500), Odisha (3,37,018), and Rajasthan (3,19,929).
The figures in this report refer to those who have received the first dose so far. Data has been sourced from the dashboard at Covid19India.org and a state-wise database put together by researchers at Harvard University.
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States with highest cumulative vaccinations
As of 25 February, Uttar Pradesh had vaccinated 12,26,775 people — higher than any other state or UT. Maharashtra (10,87,111) came in second, followed by Rajasthan (9,31,222), Gujarat (9,10,683), West Bengal (8,86,491), Karnataka (7,65,669), Madhya Pradesh (7,24,350), Bihar (6,00,795), Andhra Pradesh (5,92,903), and Odisha (5,84,948).
Lakshadweep has recorded the lowest number of cumulative vaccines at 2,982. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is the second-lowest at 7,425. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (7,762), Ladakh (8,947), and Puducherry (10,459) round up the bottom five.
States with highest vaccinations per million
Lowest in cumulative numbers, Lakshadweep has recorded the highest vaccinations per million in India at 40,760, a fact that could be attributed to its low population. Lakshadweep, a group of islands, has the lowest population among all states/UTs.
The second highest rate of vaccination per million was recorded by Ladakh (30,956), followed by Tripura (24,641), Sikkim (24,528), and Delhi (20,185). Mizoram (19,103) is sixth in the list.
The lowest number of vaccinations per million was recorded by Bihar at 4,814. Uttar Pradesh — the highest in cumulative numbers — has the second lowest rate at 5,157 vaccinations/million. Tamil Nadu (5,329), Assam (5,488), and Punjab (5,530) round up the top five.
States with high infections
Among the 10 states with the highest Covid-19 tally — Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Rajasthan — seven also rank among the top by cumulative vaccination numbers. These states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Despite having recorded a high number of Covid-19 cases, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have conducted a relatively low number of inoculations. The cumulative total for Kerala as of 25 February is 4,93,269 and that for Tamil Nadu is 4,14,827.
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States with high Covid mortality
India’s average case fatality ratio stands at 1.4 per cent — which means 1.4 per cent of all Covid cases in India have resulted in death.
Among states, Punjab has recorded the highest case fatality ratio at 3.2 per cent. Even so, it ranks 20th among the 36 states and UTs on the parameter of cumulative vaccinations.
However, Maharashtra, which has the second-highest case fatality ratio at 2.4 per cent, has recorded the second highest number of cumulative vaccinations. Sikkim, with a case fatality ratio of 2.2 per cent, ranks 31st in terms of cumulative vaccinations.
Are wealthy states/UTs vaccinating more?
For this section, ThePrint took a set of 15 states and UTs that have recorded the highest per capita income in India. These are (in descending order) — Goa, Sikkim, Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Puducherry, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab.
Goa has the highest per capita income at Rs 4,30,081, but ranks 20th when it comes to vaccinations per million.
Sikkim has the second highest per capita income at Rs 3,80,926 but has the fourth-highest vaccinations per million.
Among the 15 states and UTs, only Sikkim and Delhi were found to have high vaccinations per million. Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra recorded high cumulative vaccinations, but not vaccinations per million.
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