Skewed vax cover, 71 per cent in Mohali, 12 per cent in Ferozepur

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

Even as most Punjab districts are struggling to get Covid vaccine doses, with many able to get only 30 per cent population jabbed, Health Minister’s home district Mohali has achieved 71 per cent coverage.

In Ferozepur district, just 11.71 per cent of the population has so far got vaccinated (either single or both doses). Other districts fairing poorly include Kapurthala (17.3 per cent), Mansa (22.8 per cent), Sangrur (23.17), Fazilka (23.38 per cent), Tarn Taran (23.76), Jalandhar (24.48), Muktsar (28.01) and Moga (29.77 per cent).

Health officials cite irregular vaccine supply as the reason behind poor performance of these districts. A civil surgeon, on the condition of anonymity, said initially there was hesitance among people. “Now when residents are keen to get jabbed, the supply is not adequate. Till last week, most districts were getting just 20 per cent of the required doses,” he said.

There are, however, some districts which are getting much more doses than the average. Besides Mohali, where 71.31 per cent of the population has been vaccinated, Hoshiarpur’s coverage is 57.14 per cent, followed by Pathankot (55.11 per cent) and Ludhiana (44.55 per cent).

It has been reported that Punjab is one of the worst performing states in the country when it comes to vaccinating population above 60. As per government data till August 18, just 22 per cent of the elderly population was fully vaccinated.

During a meeting with the Union Health Minister last week, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had sought 55 lakh doses in view of the upcoming festival season.