Chandigarh, May 27: From June 1, the vaccination prioritylist for 18-45 age group in Punjab will be expanded to include shopkeepers andtheir staff, hospitality sector, industrial workers, rehriwalas/street vendors,delivery boys, bus/cab drivers/conductors and members of local bodies.
This was announced on Thursday by Chief Minister CaptainAmarinder Singh, who said as of date, 4.3 lakh individuals in the existingvaccination priority list of construction labour, co-morbid individuals andfamilies of healthcare workers in this age group had been vaccinated. Chairinga virtual Covid review meeting, Captain Amarinder expressed happiness over thefact that many donors had contributed to the vaccination fund in the state.
Besides shopkeepers and their staff members, as well asindustrial workers, the expanded priority list, effective June 1, will includestaff working in hotels, restaurants, marriage palaces, caterers, includingcooks, bearers etc. In addition to rehriwalas, other street vendors will alsobecome eligible, especially those serving food items - juice, chat, fruit etc.,as well as delivery boys, LPG distribution boys. Bus drivers, conductors, auto/cab drivers, mayors, councillors, sarpanches and panches will also be coveredin this phase of 18-45 age group vaccination.
As far as existing vaccine stocks were concerned, the stateonly had a balance of 36000 Covishield and 50000 Covaxin doses (from thosereceived from the Government of India) for the 45+ age group, and these weresufficient only for a day, the meeting was informed. In the 18-45 age group, sofar the state had received 4,29,780 of the 30 lakh doses ordered while noCovaxin dose had been received so far though advance payment had been made for1,14,190 doses.