Amidcontinued shortage of Covid vaccine, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh onSunday directed Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to explore the possibility ofprocurement of Sputnik V for the immunisation of the 18-44 age group.
Addressingthe virtual Covid review meeting, he said one lakh doses received initially forthe 18-44 category had almost been completely utilized.
AmarinderSingh asked Mahajan to look into Sputnik V as an alternative vaccine for thisage group, in which currently the state government is inoculating families ofhealthcare workers, co-morbid persons and construction labour.
Inthe next stage, other categories, especially teachers, should be vaccinated toenable reopening of the schools at the earliest, he added.
Referringto the continued shortage of Tocilizumab, Amarinder Singh said he had spoken tothe Union Health Minister and hoped for supply of some quantity by Monday.
Heasked Health Secretary Hussan Lal to follow up on the issue with the Centralgovernment. All efforts should be made to continue to ensure that all othermedicines, as well as Covid Fateh kits, are easily available for Covid patientsin the state, the Chief Minister stressed.
Lalinformed the Chief Minister there was no shortage of Fateh Kits as thedepartment currently has a stock of 24,000 with another 15,000 to be ready byMonday.