CM asks Centre for more as Punjab runs out of COVID-19 vaccine

With the State working out of Covishield vaccines on Tuesday and having a Covaxin inventory of simply 1,12,821 doses, Punjab Chief Minister Captain (Retd.) Amarinder Singh has reiterated the demand for provide of more vaccines by the Centre to vaccinate all the 18-45 years inhabitants within the State to finish vaccination of all eligible individuals over the following two months.

Even as he ordered opening of vaccination for all the inhabitants in 18-45 years age group, topic to availability, Capt. Singh mentioned the efforts would stay targeted on masking the classes that had been prioritised earlier. His authorities had set a goal to immunise all eligible in two months, adopted by the second vaccine dose as per schedule, he added. Currently, 4.8% of Punjab’s eligible inhabitants is totally vaccinated, with Mohali main the chart in each the primary and second doses.

Taking inventory of the progress in vaccination in Punjab at a digital COVID-19 overview assembly, the Chief Minister famous that the State authorities had already vaccinated more than 62 lakh eligible individuals and had been utilising vaccine shares with none wastage. However, he famous, there was a gross scarcity of vaccines, with no inventory of Covishield within the State as of Tuesday, and solely a small inventory of Covaxin accessible.

Pointing out that the State had been repeatedly taking over the difficulty of insufficient doses with the Government of India, Capt. Amarinder mentioned this had assumed essential significance as Punjab was slowly opening up sectors conditional to stakeholders having taken no less than one dose. He mentioned he would take up the matter once more with the Union Health Minister on an pressing foundation, and escalate it to the Prime Minister if wanted.