Out of vax, Capt Amarinder turns to Centre

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 29

With the state running out of Covishield and left with just 1,12,821 doses of Covaxin, CM Capt Amarinder Singh today reiterated the demand for more vaccine from the central stock to vaccinate the entire 18-45 years population in the next two months.

Though he ordered opening of vaccination to the entire 18-45 population, the CM said efforts would focus on covering the categories prioritised earlier.

The state government had set a target to immunise all eligible people in two months, followed by the second vaccine dose as per schedule. Currently, 4.8 per cent of the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated, with Mohali leading the chart in both first and second shot. Taking stock of the vaccination progress at a Covid review virtual meeting, the CM noted that the government had already vaccinated more than 62 lakh eligible persons and had been utilising the stock without any wastage.

However, he noted that there was gross shortage of vaccine. Pointing out that the state had been repeatedly taking up the issue of inadequate doses with the Centre, he said this assumed critical importance as Punjab had slowly been opening up sectors conditional to stakeholders having taken at least one dose.

He said he would take up the matter again with the Union Health Minister on urgent basis and escalate it to the Prime Minister, if needed.

Health Minister Balbir Sidhu questioned the large number of doses received by BJP-ruled states Haryana and Gujarat.