Ahmedabad, Sep 17 (PTI) More than 18 lakh eligible citizens were vaccinated against COVID-19 till 7 pm during the mega vaccination drive organised by the Gujarat government on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 71st birthday on Friday, an official said.

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The number is likely to increase further, as the inoculation drive will end at 10 pm, the official said.

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As per an official release, the state health department is continuously monitoring the drive and trying to persuade people to take the jab against the disease.

Earlier on Thursday, officials had said that the state government had set a target of covering 35 lakh persons under this drive.

"The aim is to cover more than 35 lakh beneficiaries and ensure 100 per cent vaccination in the state's 7,500 villages," additional chief secretary (Health) Manoj Aggarwal had told reporters in Gandhinagar on Thursday.

More than 100 ''Deendayal Aushadhalaya'' (dispensaries) will become operational in the state from Friday on a pilot basis, with the objective of providing health care services to the state's working class and poor families.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)