“Uttar Pradesh launches a massive vaccination drive in 2025, offering free shots to all residents to combat vaccine-preventable diseases. Targeting millions, the campaign aims to boost immunization rates amid rising concerns over diseases like measles. With robust logistics and community outreach, UP sets a benchmark for public health initiatives in India.”
Uttar Pradesh Rolls Out Ambitious Free Vaccination Campaign in 2025
In a landmark move to strengthen public health, the Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a comprehensive vaccination drive in 2025, ensuring free shots for all residents across its 75 districts. This ambitious campaign, flagged off by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aims to inoculate millions against a range of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, polio, diphtheria, and COVID-19, addressing the growing concern over declining immunization rates and outbreaks of diseases like measles in India.
The state’s health department has set an aggressive target to vaccinate over 10 crore individuals by the end of 2025, building on the success of previous initiatives like Mission June 2021, which inoculated 10 million people in a single month. The 2025 drive expands its scope to cover all age groups, with a special focus on children, pregnant women, and economically weaker sections (EWS). Vaccines under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), such as those for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, and hepatitis B, are being administered free of cost at government health centers, mobile clinics, and designated vaccination booths.
To ensure seamless execution, the state has leveraged its robust cold-chain infrastructure, with facilities like the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) system, which digitizes vaccine stock management and temperature tracking. Over 37 vaccine stores across UP, supported by national cold-chain training centers in Pune and New Delhi, are operational to maintain vaccine efficacy. The government has also partnered with private hospitals and NGOs to extend outreach to rural and underserved areas, where immunization coverage has historically been low.
The campaign comes at a critical time as India grapples with a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights a decline in childhood vaccination rates globally, with measles coverage dropping to 76% worldwide. In UP, health officials are particularly concerned about pockets with low immunization rates, which have contributed to outbreaks like the one in West Texas, where measles cases surged in 2025. The state’s health department is countering this by deploying mobile vaccination units and awareness campaigns to educate communities on the importance of timely immunization.
Chief Minister Adityanath emphasized the campaign’s inclusivity, stating that no resident, regardless of socio-economic status, will be left behind. Special provisions have been made for the EWS category, with dedicated vaccination camps in urban slums and rural hamlets. The state has also introduced a digital registration system, allowing residents to book vaccination slots via a mobile app, ensuring accessibility and reducing overcrowding at health centers.
Health experts have lauded UP’s proactive approach but caution that public trust in vaccines remains a challenge, particularly in light of global misinformation trends. The appointment of controversial figures in vaccine policy-making in other countries, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the U.S., has raised concerns about vaccine hesitancy. UP’s campaign counters this by engaging local leaders, religious figures, and influencers to dispel myths and promote vaccine acceptance.
Logistics for the drive are supported by real-time monitoring systems, with health workers equipped with digital tools to track vaccination progress. The state has also ensured security at vaccination sites, drawing from past experiences during the 2021 COVID-19 vaccination rollout, where army and police personnel guarded vaccine storage facilities. Hospitals like Safdarjung and GB Pant, which were pivotal during earlier drives, are again at the forefront, adorned with posters and digital displays to guide residents.
The campaign also aligns with national goals under the National Health Mission, which has achieved milestones like polio elimination in 2014 and maternal tetanus elimination in 2015. By prioritizing full immunization coverage, UP aims to contribute to India’s target of 90% immunization under Mission Indradhanush. The state’s health department is also exploring the inclusion of newer vaccines, such as those for rotavirus and pneumococcal pneumonia, in subsequent phases of the drive.
As the campaign progresses, UP’s health officials are optimistic about setting a national benchmark. The state’s focus on equity, technology, and community engagement underscores its commitment to safeguarding public health in 2025 and beyond.
Disclaimer: This article is based on recent news reports, official statements from the Uttar Pradesh government, and data from public health sources like the CDC and National Health Mission. Information is accurate as of August 4, 2025, and subject to change as new developments emerge. Readers are encouraged to verify details with official health authorities.