With theCovid-19 vaccine in the final stages of operationalisation in India, ChiefMinister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he will take the first shot of thevaccine in Punjab, once it is cleared by the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR).
The ChiefMinister made this announcement at the virtual Cabinet meeting, during apresentation to discuss the Covid situation and the state's preparedness toroll out the vaccine.
In linewith the government of India strategy for vaccination, Punjab has prioritisedhealthcare workers, frontline workers, the elderly population (over 50 years ofage) and people with co-morbidities, the meeting was informed.
PunjabHealth Secretary Hussan Lal said the state has compiled data of 1.25 lakhgovernment and private healthcare workers to be vaccinated in the first phase.
Approximately23 per cent (70 lakh) of the state's population, estimated at around 3 crore,will be vaccinated in terms of the government of India guidelines on vaccineprioritisation, he added.
To ensureseamless roll-out of the vaccination, the state steering committee iscoordinating closely with the national committee, while the state taskforcewill work in tandem with the district and block-level taskforce committees.
Following areview of the available facilities, the state has requested the Centre forcertain additional cold chain equipment, including vaccine vans, deep freezers,ice-lined refrigerators, cold boxes, vaccine carriers, ice packs andstabilisers.